Tom Neave takes second in Superstock 1000 Championship despite crash in final race

Twin Tim finishes fifth overall...
Tom Neave.Tom Neave.
Tom Neave.

It was so close but so far away for Tom Neave as he lost any chance he had of taking the title in the final round of the 2020 Pirelli Superstock 1000 championship when he crashed out of the race on the first lap.

However, he ended the season in second place while twin brother Tim completed the race in sixth place, ending his season in fifth place overall.

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Tom, who rides for Honda Racing, has been a revelation this year, taking the new Honda Fireblade to four race wins and two podium places plus setting a new lap record at Donington Park on the National circuit on his way to the final round at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

Already holding the secure second place he had an outside chance of taking the title but to do that he had to win the race at Brands Hatch and Chrissy Rouse had to be as low as least sixth.

With no testing for Honda at Brands this year the team were on the back foot as a good set up had to be found during free practice.

Then in sketchy conditions where tyre choice was to be the deciding factor Tom found himself down in 13th place for a fifth row start to Sunday’s race.

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He said: “that was not the qualifying we wanted today as we’re 13th for tomorrow’s race.

"I knew we had more to give but got caught in a lot of traffic and made a wrong tyre choice on a drying track.”

As the race got underway on Sunday, Tom got a good start but as he navigated Druids for the first time he suffered a massive high side and was sent flying into the barriers.

Apart from some bruising and pain he was uninjured in the crash but his hopes of the title had vanished.

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Tom said: “That was not the way I wanted to end the season but it is what it is and I have completed my season in second place.

"My thanks go to everyone at Honda Racing who have worked hard this year to get this brand new bike working so well for me. Now its back to the farm for me on Monday as the cows will not milk themselves.”

Meanwhile Tim, who qualified the Buildbase Hawk Suzuki in 10th place, started the race from the fourth row and he made his way forward to eighth in the early laps before taking up sixth place at the half way stage of the race.

He maintained his position through the remainder of the 14 laps to cross the finish line in a strong sixth position.

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He picked up a further 10 championship points which bring his total to 118 and place him fifth in the final rider standings.

Tim said: “Fifth in the championship is a good result for me this year.

"Thanks to the team at Hawk Racing for giving me the chance to ride their Suzuki this year. With a win and a third place being my best results and being in the mix for most of the season I am happy with that.”