Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins has missed out on the British Superbike Championship by the smallest ever recorded deficit: 0.006-seconds.
In a day of tough breaks at the final round of the 2011 British Superbike Championship, Hopkins suffered an electrical glitch on the first lap of the first race today, but was able to reset the bike's ignition trackside and recovered from last place to 12th. His championship rival Tommy Hill meanwhile finished fourth, to narrow Hopkins' championship lead to just two points. Hopkins' team-mate Jon Kirkham was able to help in damage control by placing a superb second, ahead of Hill.
In a day of tough breaks at the final round of the 2011 British Superbike Championship, Hopkins suffered an electrical glitch on the first lap of the first race today, but was able to reset the bike's ignition trackside and recovered from last place to 12th. His championship rival Tommy Hill meanwhile finished fourth, to narrow Hopkins' championship lead to just two points. Hopkins' team-mate Jon Kirkham was able to help in damage control by placing a superb second, ahead of Hill.
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| Hopper: brought something special to the BSB |
In the final race of the series Hopkins held third place for 16 laps before being passed by Hill. Both then passed James Ellison to be second and third going into the last lap with the gap between them just 0.060-seconds. In a lap which saw countless pass and re-passing, their race – and the championship – was decided by the final lunge for the finish line, which Hill made by the smallest advantage measurable. Jon Kirkham had been challenging for fifth place when he crashed (uninjured) at Druids on the fifth lap.
John Hopkins: "Well I don't feel great obviously, but I don't feel completely empty either. This has been a great season, I gave it everything I had but it just wasn't to be. So hats off to Tommy for taking the title.
"I couldn't be more grateful to the Samsung Crescent Racing team, they gave me everything including the best bike out there. I came into this year on a make or break basis in terms of my racing career but with their help I'm now set for a world championship ride next year. The team has put me there. I'm hugely grateful."
Jon Kirkham: "I had a great first race today, it was good to show what I could do, to be on the podium again was brilliant – and it secured me the Riders' Cup, for being best of the rest (first non Title Fighter)!
John Hopkins: "Well I don't feel great obviously, but I don't feel completely empty either. This has been a great season, I gave it everything I had but it just wasn't to be. So hats off to Tommy for taking the title.
"I couldn't be more grateful to the Samsung Crescent Racing team, they gave me everything including the best bike out there. I came into this year on a make or break basis in terms of my racing career but with their help I'm now set for a world championship ride next year. The team has put me there. I'm hugely grateful."
Jon Kirkham: "I had a great first race today, it was good to show what I could do, to be on the podium again was brilliant – and it secured me the Riders' Cup, for being best of the rest (first non Title Fighter)!
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| Kirkham: Rider's Cup winner |
"In the second race I didn't have the rear tyre performance I had for the first, it was spinning up and when I pushed it – I really wanted to be in the top-five there, helping Hopper – it just let go.
"I sit here now and the year has just gone so quick; it's been an enjoyable year and to race with the Samsung Crescent Racing team has been brilliant. Big thanks to them for a giving me such a great year."
Jack Valentine, team manager: "I'm speechless. It's impossible to put into words how this feels. It's hugely disappointing, yet I find I'm happy as well – I think that's the pride I feel for the team. What they've achieved this year has been brilliant, an unbelievable job.
"Racing will always be a story of ifs and buts and we've plenty of those to take away from this weekend – what if Hopper's electrics hadn't suffered that glitch in the first race; what if JK had stayed on and got in the mix? But the story of the championship isn't down to one or two isolated moments like those, there's more to it than that and everyone has those moments during the year. We just have to take away the positives. We were there and we got to within literally an inch or so of the title. We did everything we could.
"So I'd like to say a big thank you back to my riders as well, I've appreciated everything they've done this season. Hopper has been an inspirational rider to work with, very giving, very open and always positive – we'll have so many great memories of this season with him. JK has been through an incredible journey this year, making the step up to the big time – and today he showed he's now one of Britain's top riders for sure. Then huge thanks to Lez and Dale and their crews, all of them have been incredibly professional – and inspirational – this season. It's been a great team. And finally, to Samsung, FIXI and all our sponsors – thanks for everything, without their support we wouldn't be here, the support has been brilliant. We hope they enjoyed the ride as much as we did.
"One more thing, then: bring on 2012!"
"I sit here now and the year has just gone so quick; it's been an enjoyable year and to race with the Samsung Crescent Racing team has been brilliant. Big thanks to them for a giving me such a great year."
Jack Valentine, team manager: "I'm speechless. It's impossible to put into words how this feels. It's hugely disappointing, yet I find I'm happy as well – I think that's the pride I feel for the team. What they've achieved this year has been brilliant, an unbelievable job.
"Racing will always be a story of ifs and buts and we've plenty of those to take away from this weekend – what if Hopper's electrics hadn't suffered that glitch in the first race; what if JK had stayed on and got in the mix? But the story of the championship isn't down to one or two isolated moments like those, there's more to it than that and everyone has those moments during the year. We just have to take away the positives. We were there and we got to within literally an inch or so of the title. We did everything we could.
"So I'd like to say a big thank you back to my riders as well, I've appreciated everything they've done this season. Hopper has been an inspirational rider to work with, very giving, very open and always positive – we'll have so many great memories of this season with him. JK has been through an incredible journey this year, making the step up to the big time – and today he showed he's now one of Britain's top riders for sure. Then huge thanks to Lez and Dale and their crews, all of them have been incredibly professional – and inspirational – this season. It's been a great team. And finally, to Samsung, FIXI and all our sponsors – thanks for everything, without their support we wouldn't be here, the support has been brilliant. We hope they enjoyed the ride as much as we did.
"One more thing, then: bring on 2012!"
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