Motorcycling: Hill takes lone chance to power further in front

Tommy Hill extended his lead in the chase for MCE Insurance British Superbike title with a hard-earned victory and then a strong second place to Aussie Josh Brookes in the second round at Thruxton yesterday. Riding the Worx Suzuki, Hill had bounced back from a heavy tumble in free practice to claim pole at record pace, and then fought all of the way in a four-way power struggle in the opener.

Stuart Easton, Yukio Kagayama and Brookes all led, but Hill made the decisive move on the penultimate lap at the chicane, nosing in front of Brookes to take his second victory of the campaign. "It was a case of having a chance and taking it,'' said Hill of the move to overtake Brookes.

"I decided to go for it, everyone was moving around, sliding a bit, then the opportunity came.''

Brookes turned the tables on the series leader next time out, heading the pack on his HM Plant Honda to take his maiden victory in the series and the first by an Aussie since Troy Bayliss back in 1999.

"My bike has been good all day, and though Tommy was breathing down my neck, I knew the race was mine as long as I didn't make any mistakes,'' Brookes said.