Plenty to cheer during BSB finale
It was a positive ending to another action-packed British Superbike campaign for the region's riders across all classes as the season was brought to a close at Brands Hatch.
Brierley Hill's Michael Rutter ended a good weekend's programme on Bathams Racing's new BMW S1000RR by completing a full race distance at the final round of the National Superstock 1000 Championship.
Starting 13th, with more chassis and electronic set up changes to evaluate in the race, he finished one place better with a best lap time exactly four seconds faster than his first practice session on Friday.
Rutter said: “After the two practice sessions on Friday, I half jokingly said that I'd be over the moon if we could find two seconds per lap during the weekend.
"I'll be honest, I did think it was a tall order, but we did it. I'd never call 12th a fantastic result but on this occasion I feel like I should, or at least the improvement in lap time is a fantastic result.
"The progress that Alec and Graham have made with the bike over the weekend and the hours they have spent working on the bike, figuring out things to try on the set up, all on top of the regular maintenance that has to be done was huge, but worth it. Kudos to them."
The day was also rounded off superbly for the Bathams Racing tea as Taylor Mackenzie collected his trophy for second place in the championship, despite deciding to enter the main BSB races as a wildcard with Tyco BMW.
Rutter added: "It goes without saying that everyone at Bathams Racing wish him all the very best for his future and onward journey, and to thank him for all his effort and professionalism both on and off the track."
Josh Hiatt, 17, from Heath Hayes, may have been the only Sorrymate.com rider racing at Brands – as the Wigley twins, Kurt and Matt, were both recovering from injuries – but he went out on a real high to consolidate fifth the standard class of the British Motostar Championship.
Starting sixth on the grid for race one, he had gained place early on and then, for the first couple of laps, battled hard with Franco Bourne but eventually had to settle sixth across the line.
Lining up fifth for race two, he moved up to third early on before slipping back to fifth, this time holding off the challenge of Jeremy Knight to claim another top five finish.
Hiatt said: "I would like to say a massive thanks to Gary Wilson this weekend for giving me a competitive bike to ride. I can’t thank him enough.
"I would also like to say a big thanks to Ian and Scott for helping me to improve as a rider.
"They’ve made it possible for me to ride at the weekend, the bike has felt great and I was super pleased with the weekend.
"Also, I would like to say a big thanks to Wigley Racing and team for supporting me throughout the weekend, Abby, for keeping me fed and also a huge thanks to my sponsors, RBPS Photography for some awesome photos and my family for supporting me throughout the whole season.
"It’s been a season of highs and low but I’m really pleased to have finished the season in fifth place. Roll on next year."
Meanwhile, Storm Stacey, 16, narrowly avoided lifting the National Superstock 600 title after finishing third in the final race, leaving him third in the championship.
Ben Taylor, 14, from Kidderminster, secured 29th and 28th in the British Junior Supersport class, to end his debut BSB campaign in positive fashion.
Stourbridge's Martin Kirk, who has impressed all year the British Sidecar series, claimed an 11th in race one, which was enough to hold on to 10th in the championship.
