wan Yamaha's Michael Laverty powered to his first win of the season in wet conditions at Thruxton after an epic dog fight between the leading riders as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne challenged for the podium after starting 33rd on the grid.

Laverty said: "To get a win today is a weight off my mind now as I had been putting pressure on myself as we have been fast all season and it just hasn't quite come together in the race with bad luck and mistakes. I had dropped out of the top six in the standings so knew a result here was so important and to be back on the top step of the podium is where we needed to be. It was a tough race and the conditions were difficult  so I am well chuffed; these seem to be my conditions as my first win last year came in similar circumstances at Oulton Park! Thanks to the team at Swan Yamaha and we will see what we can do in race two."

Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins led off the line on the opening lap from Michael Rutter and Peter Hickman, but the Tyco Honda rider was on a charge, passing the pair at Segrave and Church to take the lead at the end of the opening lap after a forceful move on Hopkins into Club Chicane. Byrne had already made up 16 places by the end of the opening lap to be running in 17th on the HM Plant Honda and showing he was going to be a threat.

Pole-sitter Alex Lowes had dropped to fourth on the opening lap but on lap three he drafted ahead of Rutter's Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati on the run to Church, whilst the lead changed again as Hopkins made a move down the inside of Hickman at Club on the fourth lap.

Laverty had been running sixth on the opening lap from his second row start but on the fifth lap he was up to third as the pack streamed across the line, whilst Hickman again hit the front of the pack after a move on Hopkins at Brooklands. Byrne was up to eighth and then tagged onto the leading pack and closing the gap on Dan Linfoot and Chris Walker who were ahead of him.

Lowes then aimed to take the lead on the sixth lap which he pulled off with a determined move to led for the first time for the MSS Colchester Kawasaki after drafting Hopkins and Hickman on the exit of Church. Laverty was then on a charge and he moved from fourth to second on the seventh lap at Cobb.

There was drama at that point as Tommy Hill on the second Swan Yamaha pitted as he had opted for an intermediate tyre and he was forced to switch to wets at the end of lap seven, he ended the race in 24th position.

Laverty then moved ahead of Lowes as the pair crossed the line side-by-side on the start of the eighth lap and then he began to edge a slight advantage. Lowes then came under attack from Hickman who moved ahead at the Club Chicane and a lap later Linfoot was then moving ahead of the MSS Colchester Kawasaki to move third.

Rutter and Byrne were sparring for fifth with five laps remaining as Hopkins had dropped down to sixth. Rutter moved ahead of Linfoot on the thirteenth lap as Byrne also made a move on the Sorrymate.com Honda at Club a lap later as the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati and HM Plant Honda riders were then running third and fourth respectively.

Rutter put a move on Hickman at Segrave on the penultimate lap as Byrne was also able to take advantage as they crossed the line for the final lap as then Rutter and Byrne went on to fight it out for second place.  Byrne barged ahead of Rutter at Cobb but the retaliation was almost instant as the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati moved ahead on the exit of Church. Byrne made a last lap dash at the Club Chicane down the inside but Rutter pulled it back inside to lead on the exit to hold off the HM Plant Honda across the line for second.

Hopkins had moved back up to fourth on the final lap after a pass on Hickman who was fifth with Linfoot claiming his best result of the season in sixth. Lowes maintained seventh ahead of Chris Walker who gave the Pr1mo Kawasaki team their first top ten finish ahead of Josh Brookes on the Relentless Suzuki and Ryuichi Kiyonari completed the top ten.

Barry Burrell took his first win in the Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo class ahead of Glen Richards and Patric Muff who scored his first podium finish for Tyco Honda.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, race one:

1.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha)2.Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +1.281s3.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +1.333s4.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +1.923s5.Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +2.473s6.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +3.097s7.Alex Lowes (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +8.863s8.Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +10.948s9.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +14.718s10.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +17.132s