BRANDS Hatch was the venue for the National Superstock 600 Championship finale at the weekend and what a finish to the 2018 Season for Motorcycle Ace TJ Toms from Puriton.

This year has been a roller coaster for 17-year-old TJ with technical issues, two crashes and six points scoring results but a Podium finish has so far eluded him.

In cloudy and damp conditions TJ ended the first of two Practice sessions 12th quickest but the track dried out in the second session and TJ was able to push and lapped fifth quickest.

Suspension and gearing set up on his Kawasaki ZX-6R race bike is similar to Oulton Park although the surface is less slippery so just a few adjustments and TJ set his fastest lap of the weekend to qualify 10th quickest and will start on the fourth row on the grid.

Heavy drizzle, a damp track and very dark conditions greeted the competitors on race day but TJ was unfazed by the conditions.

He said: "We have put full wet tyres on the bike which may be a gamble, if the drizzle eases, a dry line will quickly appear and destroy wet tyres but if I can get a good start I am confident that I can run with the leaders."

TJ did make a great start and by half race distance he had bravely fought his way through the field and was the fastest rider on track when he caught the leading group.

The newly crowned Champion Ryan Vickers had pulled away at the front with Korie McGreevy, Kevin Keyes and TJ battling for the remaining podium places.

With two laps remaining TJ briefly moved past Keyes but slipped back at the start of the final lap but with grit and determination he fought back and crossed the line in third position.

Toms added: "This was my first full year in the National Superstock 600 class and to get a podium at the final round and finish 12th in the Championship table has exceeded all my expectations and next year I will be setting my sights on race wins."

Follow TJ and the team's plans for 2019 at tjtoms.com, on Twitter @TJSquidge or on Facebook with TJ Toms Racing.

HIGHBRIDGE sidecar ace Dean Nicholls and passenger Kenny Cole were determined to finish their season with another strong performance after a pair of points scoring finishes at the Assen circuit in Holland two weeks ago.

Weather conditions during the practice session on Friday were cloudy and dry but the main concern was the strong wind especially along the fast straights.

A problem with an oil leak spoilt the session so Dean was unable to post a lap time and on inspection the team found a broken gasket which they replaced but again his Kawasaki ZX-10R powered machine was causing problems and they were only able to complete one flying lap during Qualifying to finish 19th quickest.

He said: "We had oil dripping onto the rear tyre so not an ideal position and we will have to work hard to get in the points."

A good start in race one on Saturday and after 10 gruelling laps they crossed the line in eighth place.

The grid positions for Race 2 are determined in reverse order with the faster riders starting at the back which meant Dean and Kenny would start on row 7.

Cloudy and damp conditions on Sunday had made the track slippery and with drizzle still falling Dean got off the line well in race two but soon started to slip back through the field to eventually cross the line in 20th position.

Nicholls added: "Our budget meant that we didn't have a new wet tyre for the rear so we struggled with grip which was disappointing because that was only the 4th non points scoring finish we'd had this season although our target was to finish in the top 10 of the Championship which we achieved."

It will be all change for the Team next year as the Championship will no longer be using 1000cc engines and instead reduce the capacity to 600cc.

"Driving a 600cc outfit requires a different technique and the skill will be getting in and out of the corners," Nicholls said.

Follow Dean and the team's progress on Twitter @TeamLickRacing or on Facebook with Team Lick Racing.