Maidstone's Scott Smart cut a frustrated figure at Brands Hatch after his planned happy homecoming again turned sour in the ninth round of the Metzeler Superstock 1000 National Championship.

Smart, pictured, opened the season at Brands in April with 12th place. Since then he has enjoyed a podium at Cadwell Park but has failed to record points in five other rounds and that frustration continued on his return to Kent after he finished ninth.

“It’s been a frustrating weekend for us really, although I seem to have said that so many times this season,” said the Moto Rapido rider, who sits 12th in the standings with 38 points.

“We’ve struggled at Brands before and I’ve always said that it’s one of those circuits which is hard to understand. It requires something special from both the bike set-up and something special from the rider, too. Both have to perform to the maximum.

“Unfortunately, neither were there for us. It was a little bit on the bike’s part and a little bit on my part too.

“I struggled with the front end quite a lot and that set me back but I just couldn’t find the pace, either."

Jon Kirkham continued his procession towards the title with a third victory of the season.

The BMW rider finished 0.9sec ahead of Glen Richards (Honda), with Kawasaki's Howie Mainwaring a further six seconds behind in third place.

British Eurosport 2 will be broadcasting every round of the 2010 MCE British Superbike Championship. The channel is available on Sky 411 & Virgin Media 525.

Picture: Andy Payton