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Hill in front as top BSB riders prepare for the Showdown

As the 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championships heads towards its closing stages and the highly anticipated Showdown featuring the top six riders, Maxxis-sponsored Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill is continuing a spirited defence of his title and takes a useful points lead into the final three rounds of the season.

Having qualified third fastest at Donington Park (September 8-9), Hill posted a double podium for the fifth consecutive round, finishing second in race one and third in the second race.  His seven wins so far this season – at Oulton Park, where he followed up an early season victory with an impressive, first ever hat-trick in the championship in July, and at Snetterton and Knockhill – have earned Tommy 35 podium credits, giving him a 10 point lead over nearest rival Josh Brookes of Tyco Suzuki.

Hill now heads the elite group of six riders representing six different teams who will do battle to be champion when the Showdown gets underway at the Assen TT Circuit in the Netherlands on September 21-23.  Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) and Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) have joined defending champion Hill, Brookes, Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) and Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) as Title Fighters.

Hill’s Swan Yamaha team mate Noriyuki Haga missed the cut after struggling with a collarbone injury at Donington and finished the opening race in 21st place before a change of settings for race two saw him fight inside the top ten until he dropped to twelfth in the closing laps.  Lying in overall ninth position in the standings, Haga is still hungry for podium finishes.

Commenting on the latest results, Swan Yamaha team owner Shaun Muir said: “I am pleased for Tommy as he had two strong podium finishes, especially after what was a difficult weekend for us to make him comfortable with the setting, so I consider this a good result.

“I feel sorry for Noriyuki as he tried so hard but it was a big mountain to climb to try and get back into the top six with his injury.  Podiums are still achievable for Nori and he can still play a big part in the outcome of the championship.”

On his way to seven wins, five seconds and four third place finishes this season Tommy Hill has showed just how determined he is to get the best out of his Yamaha by setting pole position and notching up the fastest lap.  Going into the Showdown Brookes leads with a total of five fastest laps, while Hill is just behind with four (two of which were set during his wins at Oulton Park) and Laverty and Lowes have scored three each.  At Cadwell Park (August 25-27) Maxxis was delighted to see Hill post the fastest lap yet again on his way to victory in the first race which he duly followed up with a second win.

The superb achievements of the Swan Yamaha team, which has scored points at every round of the main season, have helped deliver increased brand awareness for Maxxis and the tyre manufacturer will be cheering Hill all the way during the opening round of the Showdown.  After Assen the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship heads to Silverstone (September 28-30) and then on to Brands Hatch for the 2012 season finale on October 12-14.