What a season!! (see more)
There can't be too many people involved in the BSB Championships or fans of the series who feel differently. Like other motorsports championships across the globe and from the past, 2011 has seen it's fair share of thrills and spills, heartache, injury, over-budget end-of-play, team changes, disqualifications, you name it, little changes year-on-year. What you don't see very often (or ever) is a title championship be won by 0.006 seconds over an entire season of fierce competition. There were a few worthy champions competing for the trophy. The pace of Shane Byrne was, as-expected, very impressive. Michael Laverty too showed how quick he is, as did Josh Brookes. Michael Rutter was another candidate who should have been in the running. Alex Lowes showed signs of brilliance and the pace of Glen Richards and Graeme Gowland on EVO-spec bikes was truly amazing.
But at the very end, when it counted, it came down to two: Tommy Hill and John Hopkins. Hopper didn't lose this championship, Tommy won it. There was nothing in it as they charged over the finish line. The two riders on two different machines were as evenly matched as it gets. Tommy happened to pass the line ahead of John. Did he want it that little bit more? I doubt it. At that level of racing you want the championship bad. It must consume you. It is your life.
What was evident was that Tommy was a popular winner. A British winner in a British Championship. Just what the fans were after. Well done Tommy! Well done to Shaun Muir and his team. And well done to all who took part.
What a season!! (see less)