TOMMY Hill outgunned the opposition to seal a superb double victory for the Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha British Superbike team today.
Hill was beaming broadly after his triumphs at the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland and team-mate Michael Laverty also found himself on the podium in the days second race.
Hill took a commanding lead from the pole in the first race to lead from start to finish, securing his second race victory of the season after fighting back from a shoulder injury sustained at round two. Laverty, meanwhile, had to claw his way through the field from 12th on the opening lap to finish sixth in race one.
In the second race Hill held off championship leader Shane Byrne to become the first rider to score a winning double this season, while Laverty took a strong third.
"What a good Father's Day present for my dad today!, said Hill. It has been a hard few rounds and we have been on the pace and then it just hasn't come together in the race.
"I thought it could have been a lottery again here this weekend with the weather, but we have been lucky it was dry so there were no excuses this weekend.
"I thought if we could get into the front and get into a rhythm then we could be there and I couldn't believe it when I crossed the line in the first one.
"In the second race to win again was unbelievable and I have to thank the Swan Yamaha team for their hard work to get us up there. It has been fantastic to get the clean sweep of pole, fastest lap and two race wins this weekend."
Laverty said he made life difficult for himself in the first race by qualifying only 11th.
"I don't know where I was at the end of the first lap as it was quite hectic and I was over the kerb at turn one and that dropped me down the order and I had to fight back," he said. "I had a few minor brake issues at the start, but it disappeared and I was able to push on.
"I was happy to be back on the podium in the second race. I was quite strong towards the end, but Shakey had that little bit extra on me in the end.
"I didn't want to make a stupid mistake and crash out as the points and podium credits are so important. It is great to have a double Swan Yamaha podium in that second race and run close to lap record pace."
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