Ryan Vickers was an unstoppable force in today’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship races at Thruxton as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider stormed to a double victory, holding off the chasing Danny Kent and Billy McConnell to celebrate his seventh win of the season in race three.
At the start of the race, Kent launched to the front of the field ahead of Tommy Bridewell and McConnell and on the opening lap the lead changed three times with the trio all having a spell before the reigning champion held the edge.
Bridewell was holding the advantage from McConnell when he dramatically slowed on the exit of the chicane caused by a quickshifter problem and the pack concertinaed and the Honda Racing UK rider lost ground that dropped him down the order before he recovered to sixth at the chequered flag.
Vickers had swept into the lead on the fifth lap and then was trying to manage the race, whilst McConnell and BSB Pathway Lewis Rollo were initially the front of the chasing pack. The IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia rider later dropped to just outside the top ten, whilst Kent got embroiled in the battle for the podium.
Vickers had enough to take the chequered flag despite a last corner moment, when the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing R1 slid out of line, with Kent able to move into second with five laps remaining and then he held off McConnell. The podium for the Australian marked the C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda team’s first since joining the championship this year.
Race one winner Kyle Ryde was fourth as Charlie Nesbitt equalled his best result of the year in fifth ahead of Bridewell and MasterMac Honda teammate Lee Jackson.
Josh Brookes was back inside the top ten in eighth place ahead of Andrew Irwin and Leon Haslam, with Glenn Irwin fighting back from his race two crash from 21st on the grid to 15th.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 3 result:
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing)
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.150s
- Billy McConnell (C&L Fairburn Properties/Look Forward Racing Honda) +2.103s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +2.999s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +3.016s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +6.253s
- Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +8.321s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +10.755s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +10.798s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +11.532s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 248
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 223
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 213
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 201
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 198
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 178
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 145
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 142
- Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) 119
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 118
For the full standings please click here