Maldon racer Danny Buchan and the Morello Racing Kawasaki team ended their season on a high note on Sunday when second place at Brands Hatch saw them clinch the 2017 Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship.

Buchan ended the year ten points clear of season-long rival Richard Cooper to take his second Superstock title, giving the Nowich-based team their second Championship having previously been victorious in 2015 with Josh Elliott.

Sunday saw good, dry conditions at the Kent venue with Buchan safe in the knowledge that sixth place would be good enough to see him clinch the Championship.

He wasn’t looking for that position though and although he slipped back to fourth off the line, he was soon back up to second and just half a second behind Cooper.

The duo, the class acts of the field in 2017, pulled clear of the rest of the field but although Buchan closed to within 0.15s of Cooper with just three of the 14 laps remaining, he wasn’t specifically targeting the race win.

With no heroics required, he shadowed Cooper for the remainder of the race and second place, his 17th podium of the season, saw him add the 2017 title to his previous 2014 success.

Buchan said: “I’m over the moon to have wrapped up the Championship.

“I was desperate to get the first lap out of the way and leave the crazy bunch behind me whilst I knew I didn’t need to take any unnecessary risks.

“Following Richard was all I needed to do and whilst I felt strong enough and quick enough to get by for the win, there was no need for any heroics.

“Winning races is great but winning Championships is even better so to take my second title feels great.

“The team have been brilliant all year and we’ve had a lot of success so a big thanks to everyone at Morello Racing Kawasaki.”