Mixed fortunes for rider Hill as crash ends his round four

The 19-year-old was in action on the track, considered the most technical and difficult on the calendar, and had high hopes of a podium spot.

Saturday Practice saw Team Hill setting up the Crossroads Garage Yamaha R6, and Hill was quickly into race winning pace.

He said : “We had a great bike setup, mostly down to Bob Corrigan helping me out.”

Sunday morning had perfect conditions for qualifying, and although he was third quickest early on, Hill was held up on his second fastest lap and had to settle for seventh on a grid of 39 riders.

Race one saw him off to a slow start, but he crossed the line in sixth.

The second race was much of the same with another sixth place, 0.3 seconds off podium.

But Monday held disaster for the teenager, who tried a different line into the gooseneck at the far end of the track and lost the front end, the bike flipping down the track.

Although Hill was unhurt, and his father and Martin Bell from Crossroads Garage worked furiously to repair the bike, retirement from the race was the only option.

A defiant Hill said: “We will come back at the next round.”

Team Hill are now looking for new sponsors, email [email protected]