Scott Redding celebrated his first victory of the ZYN British Superbike Championship season for the Hager PBM Racing Team at Donington Park, holding off Max Cook and Kyle Ryde in a red-flagged opening race for rain on the penultimate lap.
Cook had started the race leading the pack and setting an impressive pace at the front of the on the AJN Steelstock bimota with Ryde and Danny Kent the top three during the opening laps, before Redding moved into third on the fourth lap.
Cook had been edging ahead of the champions behind him, but the gap never exceeded more than 0.8s as along with Ryde and Redding the trio had the edge over their rivals.
On lap 14, Cook was under attack with both Ryde and Redding moving ahead with a move on the brakes as the battle for the opening race win of the weekend intensified.
Ryde was holding off Redding and Cook, but on the penultimate lap, the 2019 champion moved into the lead with a determined move at the Old Hairpin as the rain flags returned. As the trio arrived at the Melbourne Loop, Ryde ran wide, and Cook capitalised to move back up to second.
As the leading trio crossed the line, the rain began to intensify and the race was red flagged as Redding took the win from Cook and Ryde.
Behind, there was a race-long scrap for fourth with seven riders involved as they continuously traded blows throughout the race, but it was Leon Haslam for the Moto Rapido Racing team who held the lead of the second pack from Christian Iddon in fifth.
Rory Skinner was able to get back ahead of Bradley Ray for sixth with Storm Stacey completing the top eight as Danny Kent and Lee Jackson completed the top ten finishers.
ZYN British Superbike Championship, Donington Park race 1 result:
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team)
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) +0.846s
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +2.464s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +1 lap
- Christian Iddon (SENCAT Racing Yamaha) +1 lap
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1 lap
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +1 lap
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing) +1 lap
- Danny Kent (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +1 lap
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +1 lap
For the full race result please click here