GUISBOROUGH Superbike team Swan Yamaha are hoping for a change in fortunes as they head to Thruxton this weekend.

Tommy Hill lies fifth in the overall MCE Insurance British Superbike standings despite suffering shoulder ligament damage in a crash at Oulton Park.

He battled through the pain barrier at Croft Circuit last time out to bag a hugely impressive sixth place in race two and is hoping for better this time out.

Team-mate Michael Laverty showed impressive pace in qualifying, but a bad tyre choice and then a crash made for a disastrous time at the Darlington track.

"I feel ready for Thruxton and I have been having some more laser treatment and acupuncture since Croft to try and be as fit as I can be for the next round," said Hill.

"At Croft I did the two races and then wanted to put my helmet back on and do more as I was feeling stronger as the weekend went on.

"The Swan Yamaha team have also been working hard with the bike so we are as prepared as possible to be up there come Bank Holiday Monday."

Last year Hill had a pole position, a win and a second place at Thruxton.

"I want to be pushing for wins again rather than worrying about my shoulder and I think the extra time will make all the difference," he said. "I want to be fit again and not needing to make any excuses - I want to get the championship back on track for Swan Yamaha and hopefully I can do that at Thruxton."

Laverty said he just hoped the Gods were on his side.

"I have had the speed throughout the practices and qualifying, but so far it just hasn't translated to the races and now I really need to be turning it into results and podium finishes," he said. "I was unlucky at Croft with the first race on the tyre choice and then in race two I had that crash.

"I need consistent finishes to try and gain back the ground I have lost now. I need to be back inside that top six in the standings, which is what we are capable of."