The British Superbike championship lived up to it’s reputation for delivering world class racing today as Tommy Hill took the championship win, crossing the line 0.006 seconds ahead of title rival John Hopkins.

The final round of the championship at Brands Hatch was full of dramatic events as the challengers overcame technical difficulties and even crashes over the 3-race weekend.

However, all said and done, when the riders lined up for the final race, the championship could have only gone one of two ways, Hill or Hopper.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne made an early break in the last race of the season, followed by James Ellison, pumped from his debut podium on the sorrymate.com Honda in the previous race. Following closely behind was Hopkins and Hill, split by only a bikes length for the majority of race.

In the last 3 laps though was where the action started to heat up. After sitting patiently behind for 16 laps, Hill finally made a move on Hopper and made it stick to put himself ahead in the race and for the championship win.

Hopkins followed Hill closely, and after Tommy put a move on Ellison in the penultimate lap, he was forced to follow suit, and did so in world class style.

What followed in the final lap of the race can only be described as quite simply the best professional racing i’ve ever seen. Just like rivals Rossi and Lorenzo battling it out on the world stage 2 years ago Hill and Hopper continuously swapped places throughout the lap, passing in the most unlikely of places.

Standing up, shouting at the TV, adrenaline pumping, the tension was almost too much to take, but forcing myself to stare at the screen i watched closely as the last few corners approached with the duo side-by-side in a world of their own.

Under all of that pressure, tactics went out of the window, as each rider put their body, mind and soul into getting their bike in front. Into the final corner and Hill takes a tight line whilst Hopper draws out wide to get the run down the straight.

Hill leads by a bikes length onto the straight but Hopper quickly closes the gap as they cross the line side-by-side. The official timing quickly reveals that Hill is the new BSB champion as he crosses the line six thousandths of a second ahead of Hopkins.

Standing up in the living room, shaking, i can only clap to show my appeciation for the entertaiment these guys have given the fans. The ensuing scenes are the ultimate illustration of euphoria and despair as you read the emotion on the faces of the champion and the unlucky second place.

Whilst some don’t agree with the new BSB point scoring system there’s no denying that this race has outshone any world championship racing this season.

Congratulations to the 2011 British Superbike Champion, Tommy Hill.

For the full race report visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Photos courtesy of Double Red, British Superbike Championship