Kyle Ryde claimed his first Bennetts British Superbike Championship race win of the season in the opening race of the weekend at Donington Park in a red-flagged race one as Tommy Bridewell and Leon Haslam completed the podium line-up.
The race was red flagged when Christian Iddon crashed heavily at the Old Hairpin on lap 15. The Oxford Products Racing Ducati rider was fully conscious after the crash and was taken to the medical centre with ankle pain. He had an x-ray at the Medical Centre with no apparent fractures and will be reviewed by the BSB Medical Team tomorrow morning before warm up
At the start of the race, Ryan Vickers launched off the Omologato Pole Position to take the lead as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing teammates held the leading two positions, however on lap two, Vickers crashed out of contention at the Melbourne Hairpin.
Ryde then held the advantage ahead of Haslam, Iddon, Danny Kent, Glenn Irwin and Tommy Bridewell with Max Cook completing the leading group over the opening laps. The reigning champion was carving his way through the pack and after an intense battle with former teammate Irwin; he had Iddon in his sights as Kent held sixth.
Bridewell was then dicing with Iddon, moving into a podium position and had Haslam ahead of him as Ryde held onto the lead. The Honda Racing UK rider had his opportunity to make a move when Haslam ran wide at Goddards on lap 13 and he pounced to move into second place.
Iddon’s crash prompted a red flag and the result was declared, giving Ryde the victory by 0.559s from Bridewell with Haslam becoming the seventh podium finisher of the season as three manufacturers featured on the podium.
Kent claimed a strong fourth place, keeping him second in the standings and just nine points adrift of Irwin who maintained his championship lead with a fifth place finish.
Cook meanwhile celebrated his best result of the season with a sixth place as Lee Jackson split the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki teammates with Jason O'Halloran fighting through from his fifth row start to finish in eighth place.
Charlie Nesbitt was also able to carve his way up the order to finish ninth for the MasterMac Honda team with Josh Brookes completing the top ten as Billy McConnell narrowly missed out in eleventh for the C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda team.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race 1 result:
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.559s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +1.060s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +1.312s
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +2.748s
- Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +3.078s
- Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +5.778s
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +7.522s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +10.124s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) + 10.514s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 85
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 76
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 73
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 68
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 67
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 63
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 56
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 52
- Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 40
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 35
Tickets for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park are available upon arrival at the venue, with free entry for children under-13. For more information, click here.