Christian Iddon claimed his maiden Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory at Snetterton on Saturday afternoon as he led home team-mate Josh Brookes to give the VisionTrack Ducati team a 1-2 with Tommy Bridewell making it an all-Italian rostrum in third on the Oxford Products Racing Ducati.

The race was full of incident with Donington’s double race victor Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) crashing out on the opening lap as he sought to come through from the back of the grid, which brought out the safety car for a three-lap period, and Kyle Ryde dropping to the back after hitting trouble on the Buildbase Suzuki.

When racing resumed on lap four, pole position man and early pace setter Danny Buchan (Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki) crashed out on the first left-hander and once the dust had settled it was Iddon who held a one second lead over Bradley Ray (Synetiq BMW), Brookes, Jason O’Halloran and Bridewell who was scything through the pack from the fourth row of the grid.

Brookes began to chip away at Iddon’s lead, bringing Ray with him and by half race distance there was little between the leading trio although Bridewell was closing in all the time. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) was also on the move having fallen back on the first lap and was up to fifth, one spot ahead of Buchan’s team-mate Lee Jackson.

Iddon continued to keep Brookes at bay but the Australian moved ahead at Riches at the beginning of the tenth lap only for Iddon to respond straightaway at Montreal. The move pushed Brookes slightly wide and Ray seized the opportunity to move up to second.

By this time, Bridewell and Irwin had latched on the back of the leading trio to make it a leading pack of five but Iddon had edged away again by 0.7s with just two laps to go.

Brookes moved past Ray at the chicane on the penultimate lap and the BMW rider was pushed back to fifth as they flashed across the line with one lap to go, Bridewell and Irwin firmly intent on finishing on the podium.

At the head of the field, Iddon was looking good and he duly took his first BSB win – at the 139th time of asking – some 1.3s clear of team-mate Brookes who just held off Bridewell on the run in to the line with Irwin and Ray not too far behind, the latter unlucky to have missed out on the rostrum after a strong ride.

Jackson’s good form continued in a fine sixth with Tarran Mackenzie coming out on top of the McAMS Yamaha battle ahead of Jason O’Halloran. Ryan Vickers and the recovering Ryde completed the top ten.

Irwin retains the Championship lead, 14 points clear of Bridewell and Iddon who have now moved up to joint second.

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