Glenn Irwin served up his third victory of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season for the BeerMonster Ducati team in the BikeSocial Sprint Race at Knockhill, holding off his Yamaha rivals Kyle Ryde and Jason O'Halloran ahead of tomorrow’s two races.
O’Halloran had initially launched off the front row into the lead onboard the McAMS Yamaha, but Irwin was instantly fighting and on the second lap, he made his move on the brakes into turn one. He then controlled the race with the leading trio making the break.
Irwin was able to extend his advantage to 0.606s at the chequered flag and the victory moves him back to the top of the standings, trading places with teammate Tommy Bridewell to lead the title chase by three points.
Ryde has traditionally found the Scottish circuit a challenge in the past, but he proved that he remains a threat to his Ducati rivals as he secured his first podium finish at Knockhill in Bennetts BSB for the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha team, just ahead of O’Halloran in third place.
Bridewell meanwhile carved his way through the pack to claim fourth place, giving him a six-point edge over Ryde in the standings ahead of tomorrow’s two races.
Christian Iddon equalled his best result of the season in a hard-fought fifth place for Oxford Products Racing Ducati; he was able to move ahead of Leon Haslam who finished sixth despite his recent shoulder injury.
Ryan Vickers had a good start from the front row, but a mistake on the brakes into the Hairpin on the early stages dropped him right down the order and he had to fight back to seventh, narrowly ahead of Storm Stacey who celebrated his best finish of the season in eighth place.
Josh Brookes was the leading FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team rider in ninth place with Lee Jackson completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, BikeSocial Sprint Race results:
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.606s
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +1.851s
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +5.140s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +9.353s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +9.438s
- Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +9.634s
- Storm Stacey (Starline Racing Kawasaki) +9.763s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +10.124s
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +10.354s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 134
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 131
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 125
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) 121
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) 120
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 84
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 76
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 60
- Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 59
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 55
For the full championship standings please click here