Glenn Irwin mastered the changing conditions in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Silverstone to claim his first ever victory in the series, becoming the eighth different race winner ahead of the all-important Showdown six decider.
The race was declared wet as the track continued to dry in places, making it a gamble on tyre choice on the grid. The decision on tyre choice before the race saw Peter Hickman decide to leave the grid before the sighting lap; he had opted for a rear slick tyre and then changed to a wet tyre combination and started from pitlane.
At the start Jake Dixon led Josh Brookes and John Hopkins with Irwin in fourth, but by the third lap Brookes had been attacking and he hit the front of the field for the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team, with Hopkins in second and Irwin up to third.
Showdown six contender Leon Haslam was running in the top eight when he crashed out at Club unhurt, ending his chance of adding to his Podium Point tally for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team.
Irwin claimed the lead on the sixth lap for the Be Wiser Ducati team as the disappointment continued for another one of the Showdown six contenders when James Ellison retired his McAMS Yamaha from the race. The DNF now puts him out of contention for a place in the Showdown.
Irwin was managing the lead at the front of the field, which he held to the finish ahead of Brookes and Hopkins, who became the sixth different podium finisher of the season, as the battle for fourth raged between Showdown six contenders Dixon and Mossey. The pair traded blows but the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider was able to withstand the attack to hold onto the position and narrow the points deficit to three points.
Christian Iddon delivered a heroic performance, holding on to sixth place for the Tyco BMW team despite opting for a slick rear tyre on the grid before the start of the race despite areas of the circuit still being wet, but with some sections drying rapidly. The result keeps him in contention ahead of tomorrow’s two races with just nine points between him and Mossey in sixth.
Taylor Mackenzie was seventh on the Bennetts Suzuki to score his best result of the season ahead of Jakub Smrz and Hickman, who climbed the order to ninth place. Bradley Ray completed the top ten for Buildbase Suzuki.
Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was the first rider to confirm his position in the Showdown despite a crash in the opening race; the defending champion was up to sixth place after passing Iddon, when he slid off at Farm unhurt.
Jason O'Halloran was the final rider in contention for a top six position in eleventh place, despite setting pole position for the opening race at Silverstone.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, race one:
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +3.434s
John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +5.605s
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +15.936s
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +16.112s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +30.044s
Taylor Mackenzie (Bennetts Suzuki) +53.685s
Jakub Smrz (Lloyd & Jones PR Racing BMW) +56.728s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +57.728s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +57.959s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Silverstone race one:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 219
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 209
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 200
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 187
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 183
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 172
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) 169
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 163
