John Hopkins took his second BSB win at Snetterton, with Kyonari winning Race 2 ahead of Josh Brookes.

Hopper on Top

Samsung Crescent Racing’s John Hopkins took a win in Race 1 at the inaugural BSB meeting at the Snetterton 300 circuit.

With the highest points tally of any rider on the day, Hopkins strengthened his position in the 2011 British Superbikes Championship and after six of 12 rounds is second to Shane Byrne by a gap of 19 points.

He looked on course for the double as he led the second race from Kiyonari who had held on as a fast moving Hill clipped the back of his bike before tipping off. The Japanese rider was untroubled as he pursued Hopkins with a rejuvenated Josh Brookes on the Relentless Suzuki running third from Michael Laverty and Byrne.

Hopkins had a lead of half a second when the race was red-flagged on the eighth lap by a crash involving Simon Andrews who sustained a broken leg and Steve Brogan who suffered a shoulder injury.

Hopkins again made the running on the re-start but soon was under intense pressure from series leading HM Plant Honda rider Byrne and on the final lap as they duelled for supremacy. Byrne had taken the lead but on the final lap they collided as Hopkins tried to regain the position, both losing ground as reigning champion Kiyonari charged through to take the victory from Brookes.

While Hopkins was able to rejoin in third, Brookes’ first podium finish of the season elevated him up the order to sixth in the overall standings as Stuart Easton dropped out of the Title Fighter positions.

John Hopkins: “To win for the first time here on this new circuit feels great. I am having so much fun out there. I knew I had the pace and that was a great race for me. The bike has been working well all weekend and on this new circuit it is an even playing field for everyone.  I enjoy the track sliding around, drifting through corners and having fun.

“I had a really good pace going but then the Safety Car came out and it took the flow out of me and it took time for me to get it back. The tyres were going off a bit towards the end and I felt a bit emotional,” added Hopkins,

British Superbike Championship Round Six, Snetterton 300

Race one result:

John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing)
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.274s
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +2.966s
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +3.638s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +4.199s
Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +5.505s
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +10.427s
Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +11.572s
Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +11.792s
Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +13.909s

Race two result:
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda)
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +0.810s
John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +1.518s
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +3.550s
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.189s
Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +9.648s
Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +9.815s
Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +16.360s
Ian Lowry (Buildbase BMW) +18.208s
Jake Zemke (WFR Honda) +20.148s
DNF. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing)

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Snetterton:

Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 201
John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 182
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 140
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 120
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 119
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 91
9. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) 84