Tommy Hill is a former British motorcycle road racer, born 9 February 1985 in Beckenham, Kent. His greatest success was becoming the British Superbike Champion for 2011.[1] He also competed in the World Superbike and World Supersport championships.
| Tommy Hill | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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 Hill as the new British Superbike Champion for 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nationality | English | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 9 February 1985 Beckenham, Kent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current team | Company Owner – Tommy Hill Promotions – Designer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Website | tommyracer.com | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Hill quit motorcycle racing at the end of 2012, instead started working as a self-employed graphic designer,[2] but announced in late 2014 that he would be running a British Superbike team during 2015.[3]
After several months of his first season as a team manager with Be Wiser Kawasaki, Hill left in August 2015,[4] and the team folded in September.[5] Hill announced in October 2015 that he would be running his own team named THM – Tommy Hill Motorsport – for 2016 with Yamaha R1 machines,[6][7] backed by ePayMe, with riders John Hopkins and Stuart Easton.
Personal
editHill's early racing life included a near-fatal motocross accident in which he lost a kidney and his spleen.[8] As a result, medical problems including a bout of food poisoning in 2006 have dogged his career, and require him to take Penicillin every day. His brother Jimmy also raced.
Starting out
editHe switched to road racing in 2001, and first earned his BSB ride by winning the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup in 2003, finishing every race in the process.
British Superbikes 2004–07
editIn his first BSB season he became the youngest rider ever to start a race on the front row of the grid, and he was the only one of the team's four 2004 riders to be retained for 2005 – team boss Rob McElnea commenting that "He really did prove himself beyond everyone’s expectations this year".
In 2005, he took 2 further front row starts, as well as his first BSB win at Cadwell Park,[9] finishing 12th overall in the series.
For the 2006 British Superbike season he was the only Yamaha rider to retain his ride, leading a young team with Billy McConnell and Kieran Clarke. Hill was also entered for the Superbike World Championship race at Silverstone as a wild card. In changeable qualifying conditions he stunned the experienced regulars by taking pole position, and then finished both races in the lower reaches of the points. He finished the BSB season eighth overall[10]
In 2007, Hill was joined in the Virgin Yamaha squad by James Haydon, who returned to the team for whom he raced in 2001 and 2004. From 12th on the grid in damp conditions he briefly led the second race of round 4 at Oulton Park, but ultimately faded to 7th, the Yamaha failing to match other bikes on performance.
He also made a handful of World Supersport rides on an SSP Yamaha alongside his 2007 BSB commitments[11]
World Supersport 2008
editFor 2008 Hill switched to the series full-time, with the Hannspree Altea Honda team.[12] On his very first test he crashed, breaking his femur, ankle and hand, causing him to miss the first five rounds of the season.[13] [14] Hill returned at the Nürburgring, qualifying in 9th place.[15] But in the race he was involved in an incident at turn one where wildcard rider Arne Tode caused a massive pile-up, and as a result Hill rebroke his femur, putting him out for the rest of the season.[16]
World Superbikes and return to British Superbikes 2009 –
editThe Althea team kept faith in him for 2009, signing him to be their sole World Superbike rider, owing to his BSB experience.[17] However he was uncompetitive, and lost the ride midseason to young Frenchman Matthieu Lagrive.[18]
He joined Worx Crescent Suzuki as a replacement for the injured Sylvain Guintoli from the Mallory Park round,[19] qualifying 2nd. He was competitive in race 1 despite the electronic engine management system failing before the start, until chaos and controversy struck. He was running second when Josh Brookes lost control of his bike and catapulted race leader Simon Andrews, dropping oil from Brookes' Honda. Hill was one of five other riders who either crashed or downed their bikes to avoid crashing. The red flag was shown, but these seven riders were omitted from the results, as they were not running at the time of the red flag. Brookes received a two-meeting ban for his mistake.[20] Hill kept the ride for the next meeting at Brands Hatch on a three race weekend. Hill rode well at Brands Hatch but after the meeting it was confirmed that Sylvain Guintoli would return to the Worx Suzuki team for the remainder of the season.[21] After missing the Cadwell Park round Hill returned to BSB for the Hydrex Honda team,[22] taking the seat from Karl Harris after he was sacked.[23] Hill adapted quickly to the Hydrex Honda, gaining 7th and 6th-place finishes in his first outing at Croft, two fifths at Silverstone, and podium places at Oulton Park.
For 2010 Hill joined Worx Crescent Suzuki full-time, alongside former World Superbike race winner Yukio Kagayama.[24] He took victory in the season opener at Brands Hatch, before finishing second to James Ellison in race two.[25] He led the championship by 36 points at one stage.[26] Poorer meetings at Cadwell Park and Knockhill eroded his championship lead,[27] but regained it with three podiums at Snetterton.[28] Hill was one of the central subjects of the film I, Superbiker, which recorded his 2010 British Superbike Championship season.
On 10 November 2010 Hill signed to Swan Yamaha full-time, alongside Supersport champion Michael Laverty.[29] He came second in the opening race at Brands Hatch Indy and took victory in the second race. This gave him lead in the championship. At Oulton Park, the weekend after, he got pole position in qualifying and topped the time sheet. However, during the warm-up session, Loris Baz crashed moments before, leaving fluid on the track, this caused Hill to fall and sustain an injury to the left shoulder.[30] Later an update said that Hill's injuries would rule him out of the races ahead.,[31] However Hill was back at Croft Circuit in May. He made history at Knockhill Racing Circuit by taking his first double win in the championship and putting him back on top form to fight for the championship title.[32]
Career statistics
editStats correct as of 23 September 2012
All Time
edit| Series | Years Active | Races | Poles | Podiums | Wins | 2nd place | 3rd place | Fast Laps | Titles | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Superbike Championship | 2004–05, 2009− | 181 | 20 | 52 | 19 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 1 | |
| Superbike World Championship | 2006, 2009 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| World Supersport Championship | 2007–08 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 202 | 21 | 52 | 19 | 23 | 10 | 11 | 1 | ||
By championship
editBritish Superbike Championship
editNotes
edit- 1.^ – Hill qualified for "The Showdown" part of the BSB season, thus before the 11th round he was awarded 500 points plus the podium credits he had gained throughout the season. Podium credits are given to anyone finishing 1st, 2nd or 3rd, with 3,2 and 1 points awarded respectively.
Superbike World Championship
edit| Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Pos | Pts | Ref | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | R1 | R2 | |||||
| 2006 | Yamaha | QAT | QAT | AUS | AUS | ESP | ESP | ITA | ITA | EUR 12 |
EUR 12 |
SMR | SMR | CZE | CZE | GBR 11 |
GBR Ret |
NED | NED | GER | GER | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | 23rd | 13 | [38][39] | ||||
| 2009 | Honda | AUS 14 |
AUS 14 |
QAT 15 |
QAT Ret |
SPA 15 |
SPA 22 |
NED Ret |
NED Ret |
ITA 20 |
ITA 16 |
RSA 19 |
RSA 17 |
USA DNS |
USA DNS |
SMR | SMR | GBR | GBR | CZE | CZE | GER | GER | ITA | ITA | FRA | FRA | POR | POR | 35th | 6 | [40] |
Supersport World Championship
edit| Year | Make | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | Pos | Pts | Ref |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Yamaha | QAT | AUS | EUR | ESP | NED | ITA | GBR | SMR | CZE | GBR 5 |
GER 5 |
ITA Ret |
FRA 5 |
22nd | 33 | [41] |
| 2008 | Honda | QAT | AUS | ESP | NED | ITA | GER Ret |
SMR | CZE | GBR | EUR | ITA | FRA | POR | NC | 0 | [42] |
References
edit- ^ "Tommy Hill wins 2011 BSB title by 0.006secs!". 9 October 2011.
- ^ Tonny Hill Imagedezign Archived 10 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 November 2014
- ^ Bennetts, October 2014 Retrieved 10 November 2014
- ^ Hill leaves Be Wiser Kawasaki after ‘differing ideas’ Bike Sport News, 25 August 2015, Retrieved 11 October 2015
- ^ Be Wiser Kawasaki withdraw from BSB Motor Cycle News, 28 August 2015, Retrieved 11 October 2015
- ^ Hill back with new team in 2016 Kent Sports News, 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015
- ^ Champion Hill announces ambitious new THM ePayMe Yamaha team for 2016[permanent dead link] British Superbike.com Retrieved 11 October 2015
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2008.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Motorcycle Racing Online – Tommy Hill and Leon Haslam win at Cadwell Park BSB
- ^ "There's Nothing Virgin About Tommy Hill". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
- ^ Q&A: Tommy Hill – EXCLUSIVE | WSBK Interview | Oct 2007 | Crash.Net
- ^ World Supersport: Tommy Hill signs for Hannspree Altea Honda – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
- ^ Video: Tommy Hill at MCN offices – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
- ^ http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=142736&command=displayContent&sourceNode=252025&contentPK=19718850&folderPk=115993&pNodeId=252035[permanent dead link]
- ^ Nurburgring World Supersport: Broc Parkes fastest again, Tommy Hill in top ten – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
- ^ http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/article.html?id=TOMMY_HILL_RETURNS_HOME_AFTER_SURGERY_1[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Tommy Hill signs with Honda for 2009". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ "All change at Honda Althea as Lagrive comes in for Hill". Superbike World Championship. Infront Motor Sports. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ "Tommy Hill to ride Worx Suzuki at Mallory". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ "Brookes receives two race ban". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ "Guintoli back for Cadwell Park". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ Pinchin, Gary (6 September 2009). "Hill confirmed for Hydrex Honda". Motorcycle News. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ Miller, David (3 September 2009). "Karl Harris sacked by Hydrex Honda". bikesportnews.com. BikeSport News. Retrieved 7 April 2010.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Tommy Hill Signs For The Worx Crescent Suzuki Team For 2010 Archived 13 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "Hill on top after 'brilliant' day". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
- ^ Hill continues to set pace
- ^ "Tommy Hill keen to put British Superbikes title hopes back on track". The Guardian. London. 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017.
- ^ Consistency puts Hill back in charge
- ^ Tommy Hill signs for Swan Yamaha – News | Motorcycle Sport | BSB Results | MCN
- ^ Error Archived 5 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Error Archived 5 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ . Tommy Hill became the 2011 British Superbike Champion on 9 October at the final round of the championship at Brands Hatch after an epic fight with American John Hopkins in the final race of the season. Error Archived 23 June 2011 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ british-superbikes
- ^ "Round 12 – Standings: Oulton Park, 9–11 October 2009" (PDF). British Superbike Championship. MotorSport Vision. 11 October 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 January 2010. Retrieved 14 April 2010.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 September 2010. Retrieved 15 April 2010.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Round 12 – Standings" (PDF). MotorSportVision Racing. 9 October 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
- ^ "Round 1 – Standings" (PDF). MotorSportVision Racing. 9 April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
- ^ Motorcycle Racing Online – Wildcard Tommy Hill on pole for World Superbikes
- ^ "2006 World Superbike – Brands Hatch – webBikeWorld". Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)