Josh Brookes reduced his points gap to Bennetts British Superbike leader Scott Redding by a further five as he crossed the line in today’s first race with a one-tenth gap over the former MotoGP rider.

Brookes led from almost start to finish and held off a last-lap challenge by Redding to give the Gloucestershire rider a 14-point advantage in this afternoon’s finale.

Redding had to cut his way through the pack after running wide at Druids on lap one but made fairly short work of the opposition, getting on to Tommy Bridewell’s rear tyre in a few laps.

But the Oxford Racing Ducati rider proved more difficult to pass than Redding expected and he had to wait for an opportunity deep into the race.

Brookes, meanwhile, had kept his laptime in the 1’26s and tried to the pull the pin late on but the two Panigales were able to go with him.

Redding put a pass on Brookes as they braked into Paddock Hill for the final times but Brookes was having none of it, going back past into Druids and then running a little wide so Redding had no answer.

And that was the way it stayed as Redding stayed right on the Australian’s rear wheel but couldn’t find a way past.

Bridewell came in as the last podium man and secured third place in the championship.

Tarran Mackenzie bounced back from his misdemeanour yesterday to snag fourth place after a big scrap with Christian Iddon and Danny Buchan.

Jason O'Halloran, on the second McAMS bike, was eventh with Peter Hickman eighth, Andrew Irwin ninth and Taylor Mackenzie in tenth.