Glenn Irwin claimed the poignant first win for the Hager PBM Ducati in their new era as he pushed to the front of the field on the opening laps, hitting the lead on lap three and then held off Christian Iddon to celebrate victory.
At the start of the race, Ryan Vickers had launched off the line to lead the pack from Kyle Ryde, Glenn Irwin and Christian Iddon. The Hager PBM Ducati rider was determined, moving into second at Shell Oils corner on the opening lap, and then made his move on Vickers for the lead at Hizzys a lap later.
As Glenn Irwin held the lead, Iddon was on the move and he moved from fourth into second by lap four with a decisive pass on Vickers at Old Hall. Iddon then set his sights on his Ducati rival and the gap continued to change between the pair throughout the race, but despite a dramatic last lap moment, Irwin had the edge. The win gives the PBM team an emotional first victory under the new leadership of Jordan and Frank Bird.
Iddon celebrated a strong second place, whilst the battle for third was raging between the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing pairing and a determined Tommy Bridewell. Ryde charged into a podium position on lap 12 at Lodge and was able to bridge a minor advantage. However, Bridewell was in the hunt and he claimed fourth place with five laps to go, pushing Vickers back into fifth.
Vickers and Danny Kent scrapped for fifth with the pair trading places until the finish line, with Vickers holding the advantage from his McAMS Racing Yamaha rival by 0.093s at the chequered flag.
Jason O'Halloran held off the earlier challenges from Rory Skinner to take seventh with Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 1 result:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati)
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.069s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +2.069s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +2.588s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +5.885s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +5.978s
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +8.150s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW Motorrad) +10.501s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +12.726s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +12.894s
For the full session result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 47
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 44
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 40
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 38
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 37
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 25
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 23
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 21
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW Motorrad) 19
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 19
For the full standings please click here