Swan Yamaha return to winning ways at Thruxton

The Swan Yamaha team were back on the top step of the podium at the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Thruxton as Michael Laverty secured his first victory of the season in the opening race.

Laverty scored an impressive win in tricky wet conditions as he worked his way through the pack to take the lead on the eighth lap before controlling from the front to take the victory. Tommy Hill had a challenging first race as the team opted for the intermediate tyre and he was later forced to pit and switch to wet tyres. In the second race Laverty struggled with visibility and Hill was able to have a strong performance to finish fourth after a last lap move.

Tommy Hill said: "In the first race we simply made a wrong choice of tyre and it is always difficult in those conditions to make the decision. We then had to come in during the race and fire in a wet tyre to get a lap time to give us a better position on the grid for the second race. It was gutting as we had been up there throughout free practice and qualifying, as well as gaining the fastest lap time over the weekend. In most sessions we managed to consistently run within the top 4, so for the weather to take a turn, and be put out of race one by a wrong tyre choice was an absolute blow. We needed to push forward and get the points and the podium credits in race two. In race two I was just chipping away and just missed out on the podium but it was good to be moving back up the order. We are fourth in the championship so we are inside that important top six now and we want to be winning again soon for Swan Yamaha."

Gary Ekerold concluded: "The conditions have made it tricky over the last two rounds to have consistent results, but that said both Tommy and Michael have been inside the top four all weekend throughout practice and qualifying. In the first race the tyre choice didn’t work out for Tommy, but we are extremely happy for Michael to take his first win of the season as he has put his title challenge back on track. In race two both riders had a sensible race and scored consistent points and are now both inside the top six in the standings which is what is important”