Double Donington success for Hopkins
Added on Sunday, September 11th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Double Donington success for Hopkins
John Hopkins scored a double victory at Donington Park this afternon, to slip into the lead of the British Superbike Championship.
In the first of the title showdown events, an exciting opening race of the day saw a constant four way fight for honours in race one. Shane Byrne jumped into the lead as the field headed towards Redgate for the first time, however as they weaved their way towards the second half of the lap Michael Laverty slipped through into control.
From here the action was really hotting up at the head of the field, with Laverty, Byrne, Tommy Hill and John Hopkins swapping positions. A number of changes for the lead eventually saw Hopkins leap to the advantage, which he held as they crossed the finish line.
Despite still recovering from a hand injury, Hopkins was able to hold onto the win, ahead of Laverty and Hill. Byrne dropped to fourth place as the chequered flag fell, as the main riders fighting for the championship battled it out for the first four positions.
Jon Kirkham put in a sterling performance to score a fifth place finish, with Josh Brookes sixth and Peter Hickman seventh. James Ellison worked for an eighth place finish, whilst Martin Jessopp and Graeme Gowland completed the top ten.
As race two arrived in the late afternoon sunshine at Donington Park it was Hopkins who started from pole position. As the race began the field thundered towards Redgate, however as Byrne and Laverty rounded the corner side by the side at the head of the field, the pair collided and landed in the gravel trap.
Able to keep going the pair rejoined the race, however some way down on their rivals. As the pair strived to catch up with the field, Hill slipped into the lead of the race with Ryuichi Kiyonari second and Hopkins third. A fierce battle between the top three soon ensued, however as Hopkins launched an attach on Kiyonari for second, Hill concentrated on building a gap.
As Hopkins elevated himself into second place he set about chasing Hill. Further back, Byrne and Laverty were exchanging fastest laps, with Laverty setting a new lap record on lap three. Just two laps later Hill found himself under pressure, before Hopkins swept passed the Swan Yamaha rider for control of the race.
As Hopkins build an advantage, Hill held onto second place, whilst kiyonari’s third place soon came under threat from the charging Kirkham. Eager to build on his strong fifth place finish in race one, Kirkham was able to secure a podium visit with third place, whilst Martin Jessopp followed in fourth place.
A fierce battle between Jessopp and Brookes soon simmered when Brookes lost his fourth place. Despite being muscled backwards, Brookes held onto fifth place, ahead of Kiyonari in sixth. James Ellison progressed on his race one result to cross the finish line in seventh. Meanwhile, a storming effort from Byrne saw the HM Plant Honda rider secure eighth place finish, ahead of Chris Walker and Gowland. Laverty rescued his lap one incident to clamber back to fourteenth place.
Now as the season end edges ever closer, Hopkins has control of the championship standings with 568 points. Hill is second in the overall standings with a total of 565 points, with Byrne third with 543 points. Laverty is holding station in fourth with 532 points, just two points ahead of Brookes, whilst Kiyonari is sixth with 518 points.
The next round of the BSB Championship takes place at Silverstone, over the weekend of 23rd-25th September.
