Hipwell beats the conditions to finish seventh at Brands Hatch

Harworth rider Dean Hipwell finished the British Supersport Championship season on a high note, with a top 10 finish at Brands Hatch.
Dean Hipwell (Pic: Roy Cross)Dean Hipwell (Pic: Roy Cross)
Dean Hipwell (Pic: Roy Cross)

Wet conditions made life difficult in Saturday’s morning qualifying session, but Hipwell did well to complete it unscathed, 21st quickest.

The weather for the sprint race had improved somewhat and started in cloudy but wet conditions, with most riders using wet tyres.

Hipwell got away to a good start overtaking three riders to move up into 18th at the end of the first lap.

He moved back, then back up as the race progressed, and crossed the line in 18th, but his fastest lap placed him in 16th on the grid for Sunday’s main race.

The conditions were tricky yet again on Sunday, but Hipwell started brilliantly, picking up five places in the very first lap to cross the line in 11th.

Despite being overtaken by the Yamaha of Jake Newstead he was still in 11th with the third placed rider crashing out at the end of the third lap.

Newstead, who was half a second in front of Hipwell, also crashed out on lap four putting him into 10th place.

The fifth lap was a disaster for the seventh and eighth placed riders as in the terrible conditions they also crashed.

Hipwell who was riding a controlled race in these conditions and was in eighth spot where he stayed until with three laps remaining he was in seventh with another rider in front also crashing.

The group of riders in front were too far ahead of him and with the chasing riders three seconds behind him Hipwell settled for a well-deserved seventh at the chequered flag.

The CDH Racing team were delighted with the weekend’s results to finish the season.