Tommy Hill took first blood in the first round of the new MCE British Sup🥃erbike Championship Showdown format to le🌞ave Sunday's Croft round with a 16 point title lead.

Croft was the first of three Showdown rounds that will decide the 2010 title. The top six riders had their points equ💛alised prior to the event, with only podium credits added for their efforts during the Main Se💞ason.

That meant Hill started Sunday's round tied 🃏at the to🧔p with former double champion Ryuichi Kiyonari.

But Kiyonari, like HM Plant Honda ✃team-mate Josh Brookes - who began Sunday just one point behind the title leaders - struggled to make an impression at Croft, leaving pole sitter Hill to battle it out for race victories with fellow Suzuki rider and title fighter Michael Laverty.

Hill just held off the Relentless rider in race one, but their positions were reversed after an equally clo⛦se ♎second race.

"I'm really happy with the first race, for once it was a race that went to plan. I was able to push on and feel comfortable," said Hill. "I was very comfortable in the second race, too. I was able to pull M🐈ichael in quite comfortably and I sat behind him for a few laps to see his strengths.

"Then I passed him as planned - only when I wound the wick up he went with me! It was a good race and in the end he ജwas able to do what I had done in the first race, to get in front and to protect his line.

"So I can't be 100% happy, but I'm in the best position of anybody in the championship so I'm not complaining. Micha🐓el was great today and he's shown this is no three-horse race as it's been called, all the guys in the top-six are there for a reason. Bring on Silverstone!"

Although both Hill and Laver💜ty scored 45 points on Sun🌊day, Hill's extra podium credits from the Main Season mean he is 16 points in front of his new nearest title rival.

Kiy🌃on𒀰ari and Brookes are already 27 and 28 points back in third and fourth after damage limitation rides, but Worx Crescent Suzuki team manager Jack Valentine insists the team won't be backing off.

"We're going dirౠectly to Silverstone now for some testing on the new track. As ever we can't be complacent, I'm sure the opposition will be fierce as ever and clearly we have to watch for attacks coming from all directions!" he said.