Editorial Note: Americans Julian Correa, Joshua Raymond, Jr., and Eli Banish finished fifth, 11th, and 16th, respectively, in British Talent Cup Race One Saturday at Brands Hatch.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Vickers victorious as podium battle goes down to the wire at Brands Hatch
Ryan Vickers was unstoppable in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider delivered an inch-perfect performance, whilst behind the battle for the final podium positions was a four-way fight.
At the start, Vickers immediately hit the front of the pack into Paddock Hill Bend ahead of Danny Kent, Glenn Irwin, Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell. However, the fight at the front was short lived for Kent when he crashed out of second place on the third lap at Stirlings.
Vickers set an incredible pace to break the pack to return to the top step of the podium for the first time since the season opener at Circuito de Navarra, celebrating his third victory of the year to get his title campaign firmly back on track.
There was a four-way tussle for the final podium positions with Hager PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin initially leading Bridewell, Iddon and Leon Haslam, but Andrew Irwin was on the move in the second half of the race and he dispensed with the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team rider ahead of him.
On lap seven, Bridewell made his move on Glenn Irwin at Stirlings as the arch rivals continued their intense rivalry and the pair switched places again at Hawthorns on lap 13 when the Ducati contender moved back ahead.
Iddon was next to strike and he attacked Bridewell at Paddock Hill Bend, but the reigning champion instantly fought back to regain the position with a move at Stirlings on lap 14.
A lap later and Glenn Irwin was holding second from Bridewell as Andrew Irwin moved ahead of Iddon with a dive down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend. Whilst Bridewell surged ahead of Glenn Irwin at Stirlings before his rival recaptured the position before Clearways.
Bridewell wasn’t done and he made another move on the Hager PBM Ducati rider to take an emotional second place on the anniversary of losing his brother Ollie, meanwhile Andrew Irwin was also able to pass Glenn Irwin with five laps to go.
Bridewell and Andrew Irwin made it a double podium celebration for Honda Racing UK as they continue their resurgence after a tough season last year, relegating Glenn Irwin to fourth ahead of Iddon.
Glenn Irwin and Bridewell now head into tomorrow’s two races equal on points at the top of the standings.
Haslam held off the fight from Kyle Ryde for sixth place with Lee Jackson, Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 result:
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +7.334s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +7.520s
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +8.678s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +9.095s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +10.708s
- Kyle Ryde ( OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +11.297s
- Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +14.822s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +14.862s
- Danny Buchan (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +16.352s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 189
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 189
- hristian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 167
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 157
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 147
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 115
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 110
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 105
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 85
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 85
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“That was an amazing race. Amazing start. An amazing weekend, really. Thanks again to OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing.
“We’ve had a couple of bad rounds, some our own fault and others out of our control so thanks to their belief in me, they’ve believed in what I’ve been saying about the bike, and we’ve made considerable changes for this round. I just want to deliver what I know is possible and what everyone deserves, and we did that today.
“We got out front, set some good lap times and I believe I was setting the fastest lap of the race. So I just tried to keep that pace, got in a rhythm, hit my markers and the bike was hitting the apexes.
“I used my head, kept fully focused and didn’t really slow down much. I backed off in a couple of areas where it was closer to the limit just to be a little bit safe, but I am happy to be in the 1m:25s pretty much every lap of the race.
“The improvement to this time last year is incredible and that’s just down to a load of hard work from me and the team. We’re really showing people what we can do and it’s nice to be back at the front.”
