Fifth for Hopkins in Race Two at Brands Hatch
Cycle News Staff | April 25, 2011
Samsung Crescent Suzuki’s John Hopkins rebounded from a first leg crash to finish fifth in the second race of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent, southeast of London.Hopkins remounted after his crash to finish 17th and was looking to start anew in race two. Despite the crash, the first race wasn’t a washout. By setting the fifth fastest lap time, he improved his grid position from 11th to fifth. BSB sets the second race grid from the fastest laps of the first race.In the second race on the tight, 1.198-mile circuit, Hopkins wasn’t up to the pace of the leaders, who took off and fought amongst themselves. Tommy Hill, the second place finisher in race one, narrowly won race two on his Swan Yamaha. Hill held off defending series champion Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) by .142 secs.
First race winner Shane Byrne, Kiyonari’s teammate, was third .598 sec. behind Hill.Fourth place went to Michael Laverty on the second Swan Yamaha. Laverty had crashed spectacularly in the first race. He was alone, 4.463 secs. behind Hill.Then came Hopkins. The California was 10 secs. behind Hill and about two up on Stuart Easton on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki.Hopkins won’t have long to wait to improve his championship position. The second round of the championship begins this Saturday, April 30, at Oulton Park. The third and fourth races of the championship will again be held on a Monday, May 2.
