JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam took the MCE British Superbike race one victory in emphatic style at Cadwell Park.
This was the ZX-10RR rider’s seventh BSB race win at the Lincolnshire circuit and at the end of the 18-lapper he held off the attacks from RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon and Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne, who completed the rostrum.
It was a dramatic start to the opening race with Byrne and Haslam battling for the hole-shot, with the Kawasaki getting the slight edge. It was not the best of starts for Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot as he crashed at Charlies after going wide and sliding on the grass.
Byrne then had a moment on lap two and managed to save the bike and a bit a faring came off but he had to slip back to fourth behind Dixon and O’Halloran. On lap four of 18 Dixon then took the lead from Haslam.
A rider who started further down the grid was Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes. He was tenth after lap one and by the fifth rotation was 14th. Meanwhile it was only Bennetts Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli’s second time on the track and he went wide and had to rejoin in 20th on lap six.
Elsewhere all of the riders decided to opt for the softer rear Pirelli tyres, with Haslam racing on his usual SC2 front with Dixon deciding to compete on the SC1 front, just like Ducati’s Byrne. Just behind Byrne, McAMS Yamaha’s Michael Laverty was edging ever closer in fifth, with Jackson close behind after nine laps.
With eight rotations remaining, Byrne regrouped and passed the sole Fireblade to go into third. Then Haslam snatch the lead before going into the Gooseneck. The leading four-some were unable to push ahead as the Smiths BMW’s were closing in, with Laverty behind the S1000RRs.
Then the red machines of Byrne and O’Halloran were dicing for the final podium spot with the duelling pair swapping places on lap 14. But the Aussie was not safe as Hickman then overtook the Fireblade and then had Byrne as his next target.
When the chequered flag appeared Hickman finished in fourth, followed by O’Halloran and Jackson. The young Lincolnshire lad will start race two on pole after setting the fastest lap during the race. Laverty, Iddon, Bridewell and Ellison were the top ten finishers.
Irwin and Brookes were 11th and 12th respectively. The Bringelly rider managed to claw back two places and ended the opening race ahead of Reid, Ray and Mackenzie. Tyco BMW’s Andy Reid also bagged his first points in a BSB race with a ride that placed him P13.
