With an emphatic display of true grit and determination, Aussie style, Billy McConnell saved his most determined display of the season until the final round to claim his second race win of the season at Brands Hatch, today (14 October).
With the second double Virgin Media Yamaha front row start of the season at Brands Hatch, Billy and Tom slipped in behind the leading duo of Hobbs and McGuinness into Paddock Hill.
Joe Dickinson, looking like rejuvenated rider this weekend, crashed out at the culmination of the second circulation, allowing Billy the clear track he needed to close the gap on the front two.
Winning the battle of the late brakers, Billy slid his Pirelli-shod Yamaha YZF-R6 underneath McGuinness into Paddock Hill on lap 4. 1.1986-miles later, and the plucky Australian rider posted the same move on McGuinness' team-mate Dennis Hobbs for the lead.
From here on in it became a case of focus and concentration for the 20-year old Virgin Media Yamaha rider. Constant pressure from Hobbs throughout the remaining 18-laps did nothing to sway Billy from his ultimate goal of a second race win in 2007.
As the riders headed towards the final lap, Aaron Walker crashed out spectacularly from fifth at Clearways. The resulting red flag pulled the race back to the end of lap 22 but the result would still stand; Billy McConnell would claim the top step of the podium in the final race of the 2007 British Supersport season.
Tom Grant rode yet another mature race that belied his young age. The 2006 Virgin Mobile Cup champion fended off pressure from both Steve Brogan and Aaron Walker, before closing down the gap to third placed Michael Laverty. Posting the fastest lap of the race (47.321sec), Tom propelled him Virgin Media Yamaha into a position to make a challenge for the final podium step. However, with the red flag halting proceedings with one lap remaining, Tom settled for gallant fourth and a solid seventh in the final Championship standings.
Billy McConnell
"It was a good race and probably the best start we've had all year really. I got behind Hobbs and McGuinness it's such a hard track to pass but our Yamaha seemed to have a little more power and I got them down the straight. I pulled a gap on the lead for a while but saw it coming down towards the end, I knew I could respond if he challenged me for a pass. I'm really happy and glad to finish the season with a win, we've all worked so hard for a finish like this all year."
Tom Grant
"I'm pretty happy with that and rode really hard for it, obviously I'd love to be on the podium with Billy but I'm pleased that we ended up in the top four all weekend. It's been a good rookie season for me and I have learnt a lot over the year. I'd like to thank my team for all their hard work, it's been a pleasure working with them."
Superbike
Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha's Tommy Hill battled back to finish 13th in the final race of the 2007 season. The 1.1986-mile Brands Hatch Indy circuit became host to a number of eventful races throughout the final day of the season, as Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed his second successive Championship title today (14 October).
Tommy's pace during the first 30-lap race had seen the Lingfield based rider knocking on the door of the top ten. However, tyre fade during the latter stages of the race forced the 22-year old to retire from proceedings on lap 26.
Team-mate for the final two rounds of the season, Marty Nutt, looked to have developed a good working relationship with the Virgin Media Optoma Loans Yamaha YZF-R1. The 29-year old from Castlerock started both Superbike races from his highest grid position of the season.
Lapping at a similar pace to Tommy, Marty capitalized on the misfortune of a number of rider errors ahead of him to post 13th in race one.
Race two looked to be a more positive outing for the Virgin Media Optoma Loans pairing. Spurred on by the success of team-mate Billy McConnell, Tommy made a more determined start. However, first the Safety Car deployment and subsequent red flag on laps six and seven, left both riders in the thick of the action for the 20-lap re-start.
Dicing with Smart, the two riders used local track knowledge to close the gap on the top ten but as the chequered flag signaled the end of a long 13 round season, Tommy had to settle for 13th. Marty, looking to post a second point scoring finish of the day, lost out on the penultimate lap, bringing his Yamaha home just outside of the points in 17th.
As the curtain came down upon one of the most fiercely contested British Superbike seasons on record, Tommy Hill consolidated tenth position in the Championship.
Marty Nutt
"I'm really pleased with that, I was hoping to be in the points so I can't say fairer than that. I had a big slide which lost me a few places at the beginning of race one, who knows perhaps it could have been nearer to a top ten. Race two ended up a bit frustrating for me as my tyre seemed to wear faster even though we did less laps. The whole experience has been great for me, I've learnt such a lot and it will definitely help us In our future plans. Thanks to the whole team but especially Roger for supporting me."
Tommy Hill
"It's been a tough season for us with some highs and lows. I don't feel our Championship position reflects our ability or effort. Brands Hatch seems to have turned into a bit of a nemesis for me but that's just the way it goes sometimes. I have to thank all my crew who work tirelessly to put the package together, they have been so supportive this year. It feels like a bit of the end of an era for me, with the Cup finishing; the series that put me where I am today"
Rob McElnea, Team Principal
"I need to say a big thanks to the whole team, our sponsors and everyone involved. Without Virgin Media, Optoma Loans and the rest of our valued partners we would not be here, it's a true team effort.
Today has been really tough for Tommy, we've had some set-up issues and struggled to get a comfortable setting that Tommy is confident with. He had a massive crash here this time last year and to be honest I think he just wanted to get through it.
The Supersport team have flown the Virgin Media flag for us today and kept the whole team smiling. It's great for Billy to see the season out on the top step of the podium, it gives the team a good send off for the season and puts us on a high as we go into winter testing. We have achieved a great deal with our Supersport bikes this year and worked really hard to produce a proven race-winning bike.
A big thanks to Pirelli, it's been a development year for us and Pirelli in the Superbike class, to be honest we'd liked to have been a little stronger there but it's been a great partnership."
Virgin Media Cup
Robbie Brown left the racing performance of his career until the final Virgin Media Cup race today (14 October), in order for his name to be etched in the annals of history forever. The 18-year old dominated the weekend's proceedings, scooping his debut pole position on Saturday afternoon before emphatically claiming his first-ever Cup victory.
Lining up at the head of the grid under the mid-day sun, Robbie stole the holeshot with Midge Smart and BJ Toal in hot pursuit. David Paton languished down in 11th leaving, the young Scot with a mountain to climb in the battle for second in the title race. As the field flowed down through Paddock Hill and up into Druids for the first time Davy Haire lost the front under heavy braking. Ben Billard could not avoid the stricken Irishman, as his Yamaha YZF-R6 clipped his compatriot, the three becoming entangled and the Safety Car forced into action.
As the lights went out and the Safety Car pulled in at the end of lap 3, Robbie Brown got his head down and instantly began to pull an unassailable lead on the chasing trio of Smart, Hellyer and Toal.
Dean Jones' final race of the Cup went from bad to worse. A jump start ride through penalty issued on lap 4 was instantly followed by a second for speeding in the pit lane, eliminating any chance the Herefordshire rider had of closing in on Ben Billard in the points standings.
By mid-race distance of the 18-lapper, David Paton had scalped a number of riders to move into 9th, however, that position would only consolidate third in the title race. Locked in a four-way battle with Morris, Smith and Fagan, the 18-year old forced his way through to claim 8th at the flag.
At the head of the field, South African entrant Dane Hellyer sat close on the heels of second-placed Midge Smart. BJ Toal tucked into fourth, knowing that the Championship was safe and looking just to maximise on any unfortunate rider demise ahead.
In the closing stages, Robbie Brown exerted his dominance over the race by posting the fastest lap of the race (50.254sec), just shy of Tommy Hill's 2003 lap record, as he extended his lead at the front.
Taking the chequered flag for the first time in his Virgin Media Cup career, Robbie Brown enjoyed a 2.5sec cushion from Midge Smart in second, and Dane Hellyer in third.
Robbie Brown
"I'm so relieved it's like a dream come true. I've worked so hard all year to get my fitness up to scratch. It's fantastic to take the win in the last race of the year and the last ever race of the Virgin Media Cup."
Dane Hellyer
"It was a good race, I couldn't quite get past Midge without making too many mistakes so I went for the safer option. I'd like to congratulate BJ on his Championship win. It's been the first year racing in the UK for me and I'm pleased to have been a part of the Cup, I have learnt tons."
Niall Mackenzie, Cup Mentor
"It turned out to be a fairly tame end to this fantastic series. Robbie's win is well deserved and it's good to see his confidence increase as the season has progressed. All of the competitors have given us 100% this year, it's been a pleasure to work with them and I wish them every success for the future."
Steve Rogan, Head Of Sponsorship, Virgin Media
"It's a real shame that the series has come to an end but we understand the reasons. The past five years have been fantastic and we are proud to have been involved with such a successful race series. The talent that has come to light over the time is phenomenal and we would like to wish each and every one of the competitors the very best of luck for the future."
