Kawasaki 1-2-3 in BSB Oulton Park Race One

Leon Haslam only three points from Shane Byrne after opening Oulton Park victory

Leon Haslam emerged victorious in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the triple-header weekend at Oulton Park. The intense Showdown deciding weekend produced a historic race one for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team who completely locked out the podium for the first time with James Ellison in second place ahead of Peter Hickman.

Oulton Park Race One Podium 2016 - Image by Jon Jessop — Oulton Park Race One Podium 2016 – Image by Jon Jessop

At the start of the race Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne hit the front of the pack from the pole position, but Ellison was instantly on the attack and had captured the lead before the stream of riders reached Clay Hill for the first time.

Ellison was then leading Byrne, Haslam and a fighting Tommy Bridewell, with fellow Showdown contenders Luke Mossey, Peter Hickman, Michael Laverty and Richard Cooper in hot pursuit. As Bridewell made a bid to move up the order, the Bennetts Suzuki rider crashed out heavily, he was able to get to his feet, but that now puts him out of Showdown contention.

At the front Haslam was hounding Ellison for the lead and took the advantage at Lodge on the ninth lap to force his team-mate back to second with Byrne sitting in third place. The trio had made a break at the front, but a huge moment for Byrne on the exit of Hislop chicane saw the championship leader take to the gravel and rejoin in ninth place.

It was a disastrous race too for Showdown contender Christian Iddon who crashed out at Brittens on the ninth lap and he now lies 35 points off sixth place in the standings with a maximum of 50 up for grabs in the two races tomorrow.

Glenn Irwin was another rider to crash out of contention, but the Be Wiser Ducati rider was able to walk away from his tumble at Lodge on the ninth lap. Josh Hook and Billy McConnell also recorded DNF results.

Haslam was fending off his team-mate Ellison, but behind Hickman had taken advantage of Byrne’s mistake after getting the better of Jason O’Halloran and Mossey to move up into third place and despite pressure in the latter stages, he held the final podium position.

O’Halloran held fourth ahead of his team-mate Dan Linfoot, who still holds fifth place in the overall standings, with just a single point separating him and sixth placed Michael Laverty who finished in eighth position.

Jason O'Halloran - Image by Jon Jessop — Jason O’Halloran – Image by Jon Jessop

Broc Parkes was 14th in the opening bout, two positions behind Yamaha teammate John Hopkins.

Broc Parkes - Image by Jon Jessop — Broc Parkes – Image by Jon Jessop

Two races tomorrow (Sunday) will decide which of the seven contenders will become the final three riders to join Byrne, Haslam and O’Halloran in the Showdown six which kicks off at Donington Park next weekend (16/17/18 September).