A NUMBER of top TT riders were in action at the opening British Superbike round at Brands Hatch over the Easter weekend.

The event saw the return of Ramsey man Conor Cummins who competed in his first race since his crash at the Verandah in the Senior TT last year.

He finished 18th in the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 championship race out of a field of 30 finishers.

TT legend John McGuinness was 10th in the same race while multiple TT winner Bruce Anstey finished 29th. Dan Stewart failed to finish.

In the first British Superbike Championship race TT winner Michael Rutter was sixth, fan favourite Guy Martin was 16th and Simon Andrews, who will be riding in the TT for the first time this year, was 15th.

In the second British Superbike race Rutter finished seventh, Andrews was 17th and Guy Martin did not finish.

In the first British Supersport race double TT winner Steve Plater - who has retired from racing at the TT - was fifth while Gary Johnson was 10th and in the second Supersport race Plater was third and Johnson 11th.

The two Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship races were won by the team of Tim Reeves and Gregory Cluze who will be gunning for glory at the TT this year.

Second place in both sidecar races went to Ben and Tom Birchall who will also be ones to watch at the TT.

Photo by John Gregory