McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison has won his first MCE British Superbike race of the year, after an epic final event at Cadwell Park.
At the end of an eventful 18-lapper the Cumbrian was joined on the podium by Smiths BMW riders, Lee Jackson and Peter Hickman. It was a special day for Jackson who bagged his debut BSB rostrum finish of his career.
But all the craziness happened on lap 13. It was not a lucky lap for JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam and Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne. The ZX-10RR rider went wide at Park and then on to the grass and he crashed out of the final race, and his eighth BSB win at the track was to elude him this afternoon.
Byrne was hampered by a technical problem on his Panigale and whilst he was out in front he came to a stop at Mansfield, and was unable to gain anymore podium credits at the Lincolnshire track.
Initially it was the pole-sitter, Lee Jackson who got the hole-shot with Dixon launching into second with Byrne third on the opening lap. Jackson opted for the softer rear and front Pirelli tyre compounds and in a repeat of race one every rider decided to go for the softer rear.
Ellison, who started on the front row was on the charge and but went wide at Hall and had to slot in behind Hickman in fifth on lap five. On the same rotation Dixon got passed Jackson at Park and made his way into the lead, with Byrne in third followed by Hickman, Ellison and Haslam. The Smalley rider started on the third row for the final race.
On lap eight Jackson was still behind Dixon, but the 21-year-old Lincolnshire lad broke Haslam’s lap record by one tenth, with a 1’26.478. Meanwhile Ellison overtook Hickman at Park to go up to fourth. But then a lap later leader Dixon crashed out of the lead at Hall Bend. The Dover rider was fortunately uninjured in the low-side and was just a little angry that he crashed.
With Dixon out of contention it paved the way for Jackson to go back in to the front, with Byrne hot on his heels with Ellison close by. The multiple champ had enough of being second and going into Park curve he overtook the Smiths BMW bike to go into the provisional race winning position.
But then lap 13 proved to be the most dramatic. First Haslam decided to make an overtaking move on Hickman at Park but he went wide and on to the grass, but then he crashed. Then seconds later Byrne, whilst in the lead, had a technical problem at Mansfield and came to a stop.
With the title fighters out of action from the race it moved Jackson, Ellison and Hickman up the order. The race then turned into a three-way fight for maximum points and then going into Park corner Ellison out-paced the rest to go to the front of the pack.
With Byrne and Haslam out of the race it means it is the first time since the top six format came to fruition that no rider has secured their spot before the final showdown round. When the chequered flag appeared O’Halloran held on to fourth followed by Iddon, Bridewell and Josh Brookes, who was able to salvage some points to finish in seventh and he remains in Showdown contention.
Michael Laverty kept a consistent pace through the final race to finish in eighth, with Irwin, Guintoli, Ray, Jessopp, Reid, Smrz and Mackenzie the last of the points finishers.
There was only one Honda Racing bike out on the grid for the final race, as Dan Linfoot was ruled out of action after his race one crash. The Northerner chipped a knuckle on his finger.