Tommy Hill sent a statement of intent to his title rivals after his fifth race win of the season launched himself back to prime position in the British Superbike championship.

The Swan Yamaha racer had been on pole for every race of the Brands Hatch triple-header, but failed to convert his previous two efforts, finishing runner-up in race two and ending 19th in race one.

But Hill led from the outset and never looked back in race three at the Kent circuit, leaving himself one podium credit ahead of title rivals Shane Byrne and John Hopkins with only three races until the Showdown.

Similarly to the previous race, all three contenders finished on the podium but this time the 26-year-old held off Californian Hopkins into second with HM Plant Honda racer Byrne taking the final place on the steps.

After Brookes and Byrne scored victories in the weekend's first two races, Hill was desperate to convert a pole position into victory with rivals Hopkins and Byrne breathing down his neck from lap one.

Gary Mason and Michael Rutter made strong progress behind the front three in their chase for the Showdown, with defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari again sandwiched down in 11th place.

Smoke bellowing out of the Relentless Suzuki's exhaust forced Brookes to pull out on lap five, and Kiyonari seized the opportunity to surge forward, tagging onto Rutter, Mason & Michael Laverty's tails.

With Hopkins running a faster pace than Byrne, the former Moto GP racer pulled away in pursuit of Hill on lap ten but the Swan Yamaha man held firm, with teammate Laverty finishing strong in fourth.

Three-time title winner Kiyonari surged past Mason into sixth, but Rutter held on to fourth, leaving himself well positioned to make a final round assault on the Japanese racer's sixth place Showdown spot at Cadwell Park.

Race results

1. Tommy Hill (GBR) Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 28:55.830

2. John Hopkins (USA) Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +4.113

3. Shane Byrne (GBR) HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR +5.236

4. Michael Laverty (GBR) Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 +5.409

5. Michael Rutter (GBR) Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R +10.705

6. Ryuichi Kiyonari (JPN) HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR +11.049

7. Gary Mason (GBR) MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +13.689

8. Joan Lascorz (ESP) Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +13.950

9. Peter Hickman (GBR) Tyco Honda CBR1000RR +19.382

10. Jon Kirkham (GBR) Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 +19.770

11. Graeme Gowland (GBR) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +20.559

12. Broc Parkes (AUS) Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R +22.499

13. James Ellison (GBR) Sorrymate.com SMT Honda CBR1000RR +25.497

14. James Westmoreland (GBR) Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 +25.565

15. Chris Walker (GBR) Pr1mo Kawasaki ZX-10R +28.738

16. Alex Lowes (GBR) MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R +29.081

17. Glen Richards (AUS) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +35.215

18. Jake Zemke (USA) WFR Honda CBR1000RR +43.847

19. Barry Burrell (GBR) Buildbase BMW S1000RR +43.920

20. Scott Smart (GBR) Moto Rapido Ducati 1098R +44.216

21. Glenn Allerton (AUS) Doodson BMW S1000RR +50.059

22. Aaron Zanotti (GBR) Quattro Plant Spike BMW S1000RR +1min 15.031s 

Sportsbeat / Eurosport