RINGWOOD’S Buildbase Bournemouth Kawasaki rider James Hillier went into the latest round of the British Superbike Championship at Snetterton looking for another strong finish after an amazing ninth place in the Isle of Man Senior TT.

Hillier insists his Isle of Man Tourist Trophy apprenticeship is over and he has set his sights on further progression next year.

The youngster who made his debut at the 102-year-old road race last year, rubbished TT myths that you need three years to get to know the course by finishing in the top 20 in all five races.

The highlight came in the Pokerstars Senior TT race where the 24-year-old – who works for Bourne BG in Poole – powered his way to ninth place out of the 74 starters. Now he's up to speed with every twist and turn of the 37.73-mile mountain course, the Buildbase Bournemouth Kawasaki rider is adamant he can be a consistent top-ten performer in 2010.

He said: “It was a great week because I learned a lot and really feel I could now make inroads next year.

“I wasn’t expecting too much going into just my second year at the TT because it takes a few years to learn the circuit properly, but I felt like I rode well and hopefully I can be in the top ten next year.”

Back to earth with the BSB series and the wilds of Norfolk, James had a good practice on Friday morning and was fifth fastest.

Then in qualifying he crashed twice and managed just 13th place on the grid.

Come raceday the weather was better and James got a good start and fought through to eighth by lap 12 of the 18-lap race.

Then on the last lap and at the final chicane Irish rider Marshall Neill just pipped him to the finish line.

James remains seventh in the championship, ten points behind fourth and just five points in front of John McGuinness in ninth.