If Tommy Hill didn’t know already he knows now just how draining it can be as manager of an MCE British Superbike team.

At Brands Hatch, his local circuit things didn’t go according to plan for his Be Wiser Kawasaki team and his charges Danny Buchan and Chris Walker.

Buchan was unlucky to get taken out in a first lap crash at turn two in race one; he took a bang to the head and was forced to sit out of race two after suffering concussion, and therefore wasn’t passed fit to race.

Walker who was still recovering some nasty injuries he sustained at Knockhill, was forced to retire from both races after having some issues with external mechanical parts, which was out of the teams control.

Despite heavy strapping he was still in a lot of discomfort and pain, only able to qualify in 17^th place. In race one, he got a good start and was up to 15^th after lap one and 13^th by lap five. The safety car was deployed and was out for two laps after Stuart Easton crashed heavily and on the lap after the car came back into the pits Chris was forced to retire after suffering a mechanical problem.

Chris started from 23^rd for race two and made a great start and was 20^th after lap one and soon was picking off riders and on lap 13 he was in the points in 15^th place. On lap 17 Chris suffered an obvious engine problem and despite smoke piling out the back of the machine he was still racing for points, he was black and orange flagged and forced to retire again.

Danny ended up qualifying in 19^th place for the first race but only one second off pole sitter Shane Byrne. He was determined to have a good race but it is always a little messy on the opening lap and he got caught up in another crash forcing him out the race on the second corner. He took a heavy bang to the head and was forced out of the second race by the medics after suffering with concussion.

Giving his thoughts after the weekends racing was over, Tommy said: “It has been a very emotionally draining weekend and I know having ridden in the past how frustrating it is sometimes being a rider where things are out of our control.

“I’m gutted about this weekend and we are working so hard to move and push things forward, maybe that is some of the problem. Danny was unlucky in the first race to get caught up in that crash and suffer concussion.

“He didn’t really get to a chance to go and have a good shot at it. His times were improving and we had made some steps forward but he’ll be back fully fit and ready to race at Thruxton.

“With Chris, it really was bad luck on our behalf, the bikes have run well all weekend and then in both races he had a problem. We later found out the problem was caused by an external part, which was totally out of control of the team. I think we just had no luck this weekend but we will continue to put in all the effort and move forwards to Thruxton and hope for some good results there.”

Images courtesy of Jon Jessop Photography