Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill celebrated victory at his home circuit as he took the third and final race victory of the weekend at Brands Hatch after edging ahead of Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki's John Hopkins as the pressure now mounts ahead of the Cadwell Park round Showdown decider on August Bank Holiday.

Hill again took the hole shot into Paddock Hill Bend from Hopkins and Byrne on the opening lap with the trio closely followed by Michael Laverty. Hill was desperate to maintain his position at the front of the field after missing out in the earlier race and was pushing hard ahead of Hopkins as Laverty and Byrne were embroiled in a battle for third place and the final podium position.

Race one winner Josh Brookes had his final race of the weekend ended prematurely when the Relentless Suzuki by TAS was shown the black/orange flag for smoke and he was forced to retire on the fifth lap.

Hill and Hopkins meanwhile were in close contention at the front of the field, but Byrne and Laverty were scrapping for third place, with the Swan Yamaha rider trying to pass at Druids on the twelfth lap, but Byrne held a tight line and Laverty was forced to settle back in to fourth. Laverty was shadowing his HM Plant Honda rival and made several attempts to pass but Byrne was defending hard.

The second HM Plant Honda of Ryuichi Kiyonari was trying to make amends from his fourth row start and despite being outside the top ten at the end of the opening lap he had a resurgent race to work up the order to sixth as the Japanese ace then attacked Michael Rutter hard on the final lap but the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati rider held on to the position.

Gary Mason took seventh place ahead of Joan Lascorz in eighth with Peter Hickman and Jon Kirkham rounding out the top ten. Graeme Gowland scored a hat trick of Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo race wins holding off team-mates Glen Richards and Jake Zemke.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch GP, race three result:

Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +4.113s
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +5.236s
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +5.409s
Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +10.705s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +11.049s
Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +13.689s
Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki WSB) +13.950s
Peter Hickman (WFR Honda) +19.382s
Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +19.770s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch:

Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 255
John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 231
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 210
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 163
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 146
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 135