Tommy Hill

Last updated

Tommy Hill
Hill Champ.jpg
Hill as the new British Superbike Champion for 2011
Nationality English
Born (1985-02-09) 9 February 1985 (age 39)
Beckenham, Kent
Current teamCompany Owner - Tommy Hill Promotions - Designer
Website tommyracer.com
Motorcycle racing career statistics
British Superbike Championship
Active years2004-2006, 2009-2011
Championships 1 ( 2011 )
2011 championship position1st
StartsWinsPodiums Poles F. laps Points
18119511411987

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.

Contents

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

Hill'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

He 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

In 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

For 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 –

The 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

Stats correct as of 23 September 2012

All Time

SeriesYears ActiveRacesPolesPodiumsWins2nd place3rd placeFast LapsTitles
British Superbike Championship 2004–05, 2009−1812052192310111
Superbike World Championship 2006, 2009161000000
World Supersport Championship 2007–0850000000
Total2022152192310111

By championship

British Superbike Championship

YearMake12345678910111213PosPtsRef
R1R2R1R2R1R2R3R1R2R1R2R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R3R1R2R1R2R1R2R3R1R2
2004 Yamaha SIL
14		 SIL
10		 BHI
9		 BHI
10		 SNE
8		 SNE
10		 OUL
9		 OUL
14		 MON
Ret		 MON
Ret		 THR
9		 THR
6		 BHGP
7		 BHGP
8		 KNO
Ret		 KNO
Ret		 MAL
Ret		 MAL
6		 CRO
9		 CRO
Ret		 CAD
5		 CAD
Ret		 OUL
9		 OUL
10		 DON
10		 DON
14		9th137
2005 Yamaha BHI
10		 BHI
12		 THR
10		 THR
Ret		 MAL MAL OUL OUL MON
Ret		 MON
14		 CRO
16		 CRO
Ret		 KNO
15		 KNO
12		 SNE
10		 SNE
7		 SIL
8		 SIL
10		 CAD
1		 CAD
4		 OUL
7		 OUL
6		 DON
8		 DON
Ret		 BHGP
Ret		 BHGP
9		12th123 [33]
2006 Yamaha BHI
Ret		 BHI
6		 DON
Ret		 DON
6		 THR
8		 THR
9		 OUL
7		 OUL
8		 MON
C		 MON
C		 MAL
12		 MAL
11		 SNE
6		 SNE
3		 KNO
8		 KNO
4		 OUL
Ret		 OUL
6		 CRO
7		 CRO
Ret		 CAD
5		 CAD
4		 SIL
6		 SIL
Ret		 BHGP
4		 BHGP
Ret		8th187
2007 Yamaha BHGP
9		 BHGP
Ret		 THR
8		 THR
10		 SIL
8		 SIL
8		 OUL
10		 OUL
7		 SNE
7		 SNE
7		 MON
10		 MON
9		 KNO
13		 KNO
Ret		 OUL
8		 OUL
Ret		 MAL
7		 MAL
9		 CRO
10		 CRO
Ret		 CAD
6		 CAD
7		 DON
Ret		 DON
Ret		 BHI
Ret		 BHI
13		10th138
2009 Suzuki BHI BHI OUL OUL DON DON THR THR SNE SNE KNO KNO MAL
Ret		 MAL
8		 BHGP
4		 BHGP
5		 BHGP
7		 CAD CAD 11th127 [34]
Honda CRO
7		 CRO
6		 SIL
5		 SIL
5		 OUL
3		 OUL
4		 OUL
2
2010 Suzuki BHI
1		 BHI
2		 THR
1		 THR
2		 OUL
2		 OUL
3		 CAD
Ret		 CAD
2		 MAL
Ret		 MAL
8		 KNO
8		 KNO
C		 SNE
3		 SNE
2		 SNE
2		 BHGP
15		 BHGP
6		 BHGP
4		 CAD
1		 CAD
2		 CRO
1		 CRO
2		 SIL
8		 SIL
5		 OUL
2		 OUL
Ret		 OUL
5		3rd620 1 [35]
2011 Yamaha BHI
2		 BHI
1		 OUL
DNS		 OUL
DNS		 CRO
14		 CRO
6		 THR
26		 THR
4		 KNO
1		 KNO
1		 SNE
2		 SNE
Ret		 OUL
1		 OUL
C		 BHGP
19		 BHGP
2		 BHGP
1		 CAD
2		 CAD
1		 CAD
1		 DON
3		 DON
2		 SIL
3		 SIL
2		 BHGP
4		 BHGP
4		 BHGP
2		1st647 1 [36]
2012 Yamaha BHI
Ret		 BHI
C		 THR
2		 THR
2		 OUL
1		 OUL
4		 OUL
2		 SNE
1		 SNE
Ret		 KNO
2		 KNO
3		 OUL
1		 OUL
1		 OUL
1		 BHGP
3		 BHGP
3		 CAD
1		 CAD
1		 DON
2		 DON
3		 ASS
Ret		 ASS
4		 SIL
7		 SIL
7		 BHGP
2		 BHGP
6		 BHGP
3		3rd612 1 [37]
Notes
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

YearMake1234567891011121314PosPtsRef
R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2R1R2
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 23rd13 [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 35th6 [40]

Supersport World Championship

YearMake12345678910111213PosPtsRef
2007 Yamaha QAT AUS EUR ESP NED ITA GBR SMR CZE GBR
5		 GER
5		 ITA
Ret		 FRA
5		22nd33 [41]
2008 Honda QAT AUS ESP NED ITA GER
Ret		 SMR CZE GBR EUR ITA FRA POR NC0 [42]

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References

  1. ↑ "Tommy Hill wins 2011 BSB title by 0.006secs!". 9 October 2011.
  2. ↑ Tonny Hill Imagedezign Archived 10 November 2014 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 10 November 2014
  3. ↑ Bennetts, October 2014 Retrieved 10 November 2014
  4. ↑ Hill leaves Be Wiser Kawasaki after ‘differing ideas’ Bike Sport News, 25 August 2015, Retrieved 11 October 2015
  5. ↑ Be Wiser Kawasaki withdraw from BSB Motor Cycle News , 28 August 2015, Retrieved 11 October 2015
  6. ↑ Hill back with new team in 2016 Kent Sports News, 2 October 2015. Retrieved 11 October 2015
  7. ↑ Champion Hill announces ambitious new THM ePayMe Yamaha team for 2016 [ permanent dead link ] British Superbike.com Retrieved 11 October 2015
  8. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 10 May 2007. Retrieved 21 February 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ↑ Motorcycle Racing Online – Tommy Hill and Leon Haslam win at Cadwell Park BSB
  10. ↑ "There's Nothing Virgin About Tommy Hill". Archived from the original on 7 September 2008. Retrieved 20 July 2010.
  11. ↑ Q&A: Tommy Hill – EXCLUSIVE | WSBK Interview | Oct 2007 | Crash.Net
  12. ↑ World Supersport: Tommy Hill signs for Hannspree Altea Honda – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
  13. ↑ Video: Tommy Hill at MCN offices – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
  14. ↑ http://www.thisiscourier.co.uk/displayNode.jsp?nodeId=142736&command=displayContent&sourceNode=252025&contentPK=19718850&folderPk=115993&pNodeId=252035%5B%5D
  15. ↑ Nurburgring World Supersport: Broc Parkes fastest again, Tommy Hill in top ten – | Motorcycle Sport | WSB | BSB | MotoGP | TT & Road races | MCN
  16. ↑ http://www.bikesportnews.com/articles/article.html?id=TOMMY_HILL_RETURNS_HOME_AFTER_SURGERY_1%5B%5D
  17. ↑ "Tommy Hill signs with Honda for 2009". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 19 September 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  18. ↑ "All change at Honda Althea as Lagrive comes in for Hill". Superbike World Championship . Infront Motor Sports. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  19. ↑ "Tommy Hill to ride Worx Suzuki at Mallory". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 8 July 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  20. ↑ "Brookes receives two race ban". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 20 July 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  21. ↑ "Guintoli back for Cadwell Park". visordown.com. Magicalia Ltd. 19 August 2009. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  22. ↑ Pinchin, Gary (6 September 2009). "Hill confirmed for Hydrex Honda". Motorcycle News . Bauer Media Group . Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  23. ↑ Miller, David (3 September 2009). "Karl Harris sacked by Hydrex Honda". bikesportnews.com. BikeSport News. Retrieved 7 April 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  24. ↑ Tommy Hill Signs For The Worx Crescent Suzuki Team For 2010 Archived 13 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "Hill on top after 'brilliant' day". crash.net. Crash Media Group. 5 April 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2010.
  26. ↑ Hill continues to set pace
  27. ↑ "Tommy Hill keen to put British Superbikes title hopes back on track". The Guardian . 15 July 2010. Archived from the original on 25 May 2017.
  28. ↑ Consistency puts Hill back in charge
  29. ↑ Tommy Hill signs for Swan Yamaha – News | Motorcycle Sport | BSB Results | MCN
  30. ↑ Error Archived 5 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  31. ↑ Error Archived 5 May 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  32. ↑ . 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
  33. ↑ british-superbikes
  34. ↑ "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.
  35. ↑ "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)
  36. ↑ "Round 12 – Standings" (PDF). MotorSportVision Racing. 9 October 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  37. ↑ "Round 1 – Standings" (PDF). MotorSportVision Racing. 9 April 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 March 2013. Retrieved 9 April 2012.
  38. ↑ Motorcycle Racing Online – Wildcard Tommy Hill on pole for World Superbikes
  39. ↑ "2006 World Superbike - Brands Hatch - webBikeWorld". Archived from the original on 8 July 2008. Retrieved 5 August 2009.
  40. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 8 August 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  41. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  42. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 5 April 2012. Retrieved 9 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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