Maxxis-sponsored Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill demonstrated he is in superb form by posting a hat-trick of wins in the sixth round of the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park (July 7-8) to extend his advantage in the overall standings.
No.1 Tommy Hill
Having set pole and clinched the opening race of the triple header, the reigning British Superbike champion made the perfect start in race two but was made to work hard in the early stages to fend off a determined challenge from team-mate Noriyuki Haga. Eventually, Hill came home ahead of Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes and Shane Byrne aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki, with Haga in fifth.
Tommy again hit the front on the opening lap of the final race, managing to regain the position after Brookes stole the advantage and claim his third win and first hat-trick of victories in the series. Byrne was second ahead of Brookes, who fought back after almost losing control and dropping five places to snatch the final podium place with a last lap move on Haga at the final corner.
Hill said: “It was fantastic to win all three races here as not many riders can say they have done the triple. I think I had a target on my back and the other guys were aiming for it, but that pushed me all the way again. I am happy that we can come into my home round at Brands Hatch with the momentum from this weekend and hopefully we can do it again for Swan Yamaha.”
Commenting on the results, Gary Ekerold, team manager at Swan Yamaha, said: “We had three races at Oulton Park and to take three wins and a pole position was a fantastic result for the Swan Yamaha team.”
Haga’s 4-5-4 results certainly rounded off an excellent weekend for the Swan Yamaha team and at the half way point in the championship Tommy Hill is at the top of the leader board with a 28 point margin over Brookes with Byre just a point adrift in third. Haga is currently lying in sixth place in the standings.
“This is a tremendous performance from Swan Yamaha. We are delighted to support a team that works really hard to be at the front of the field at every round and, as these results demonstrate, one that is going places fast,” says Maxxis International UK’s managing director Derek McMartin.
The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is at Brands Hatch on July 20-22.
Maxxis would like to take this opportunity to wish Both Tommy and Nori good luck for the rest of the season.
