Josh Brookes scored his first victory of the 2017 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season for Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha at Thruxton this afternoon, stealing the lead from Peter Hickman in the closing stages in the first high-speed duel of the day.

Pole sitter Jake Dixon had fired himself off the line fastest to lead on the opening lap ahead of Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne dropped down the order after a mistake at the chicane that caused him to run on.

Two laps later and the BMW Safety Car was deployed when Billy McConnell crashed out, but when the race resumed Dixon was instantly under attack from Smiths Racing BMW’s Hickman. The Lincolnshire ace took the lead on the brakes into the chicane on lap nine, pushing Dixon into the clutches of Brookes.

Brookes though was determined and by lap 15 he was in the lead and with three laps to go he was able to edge out a slight advantage which he held until the chequered flag to claim the team their first race victory in the premier class.

Hickman had been embroiled in a battle with Dixon throughout the closing stages. The Smiths Racing BMW rider was able to fend off the attack over the final two laps to give the local team their best result in the championship to date with Dixon completing the podium.

Byrne had fought his way back into fourth place with Christian Iddon battling to fifth place for Tyco BMW after keeping Jason O'Halloran in his wheel tracks on the leading Honda Fireblade.

Leon Haslam was seventh on the sole JG Speedfit Kawasaki with Bradley Ray equalling his best result of the season in eighth ahead of John Hopkins and Sylvain Guintoli featured in the top ten for the first time this year.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race one result:

Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha)
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.026s
Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) +1.774s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +2.305s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +5.604s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +6.797s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +6.926s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +12.419s
John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +12.425s
Sylvain Guintoli (Bennetts Suzuki) +12.994s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Thruxton race one:

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 203
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 168
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 161
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire Tag Yamaha) 154
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 143
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 139