Peter Hickman produced two impressive performances at Snetterton to take two top 10 finishes and move into the all important Showdown places.
The Smiths Racing BMW man started the opening race of the day in 10th spot but made a good start and so0n found himself in eighth.
Hickman was involved in a race-long battle for sixth place and it looked like he would secure that position, only to lose out to Jake Dixon in the closing stages.
His pace in the opening race meant that Hickman would start race two from a much better fifth position on the grid.
The 30-year-old initially got away well but was pushed wide at turn two and then again later in the lap. The chaotic opening lap left Hickman back down in 11th with plenty of work to do.
The Isle of Man TT star got his head down and put in some quick laps and was soon battling well within the top 10. The Louth rider would eventually get his rewards as he crossed the line in sixth place.
Looking back over the two races, a delighted Hickman said: “It hasn’t been a bad weekend and if you forget the race positions, one of the major things to come out of the weekend is that we’ve made major improvements to the bike and have learnt an awful lot which should stand us in good stead in the forthcoming rounds.
“The bike felt a lot more planted and I was really hopeful of a better showing in race two so it was a shame I got duffed up a bit. I made a good start but got pushed wide twice and lost my rhythm which made it tough but I kept pushing until the end and to be back in the top six is pleasing. The team have done a mega job all weekend and we’re looking forward now to pushing on even further.”
Hickman’s 19 points from Snetterton means that he now occupies sixth spot, which is the final place within the Showdown, and is four points ahead of seventh place man Dixon.
The sixth round of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch on July 21 – 23.
