Scott Redding ruled the Bennetts British Superbike Championship action at Donington Park today, doubling up on victories to maintain the lead in the Showdown standings ahead of the Brands Hatch title decider.
At the start of the race Brookes got a flying start off the line to lead the pack into Redgate for the first time ahead of Christian Iddon and Redding, with the second placed Tyco BMW rider trying to dive for the lead at Craner Curves before the 2015 champion instantly cut back into the lead.
As Redding moved into second a lap later to force ahead of Iddon, further down the field Billy McConnell crashed out unhurt at the Esses, leaving gravel across the circuit. The BMW Safety Car was deployed and as the pack lined up Brookes had the advantage from Redding, Tommy Bridewell, Peter Hickman, Iddon and Danny Buchan as the Showdown Title Fighters were locked together.
On the restart though Redding had initially dropped back from Brookes to try and force more heat into the tyres and it worked; Brookes ran wide into Redgate and Redding had the opportunity he needed to make a pass for the lead.
Redding then pushed to bridge a gap but the advantage kept changing, later the championship leader admitted he was suffering with a gearing issue that was causing him to be less consistent with his lap times. Brookes had been reeling him in over the closing stages but it wasn’t enough to make a move on his teammate and he was forced to settle for second place ahead of Bridewell.
Danny Buchan had maintained his fourth place after a tough opening race at Donington Park to fire the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ahead of Iddon on the Tyco BMW and Bradley Ray, who overcame the disappointment of a technical retirement in race one to hold off a hard-charging Andrew Irwin for sixth place.
Irwin had been also battling with his Honda Racing teammate Xavi Forés, who had to settle for eighth place with the McAMS Yamaha pairing of Tarran Mackenzie and Jason O'Halloran completing the top ten.
It was a disastrous race for Peter Hickman who had been battling for the fourth place when he lost the chain for the Smiths Racing BMW, ending his race prematurely.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race two result:
- Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati)
- Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.513s
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +5.316s
- Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +9.420s
- Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +11.916s
- Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +12.014s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) +12.560s
- Xavi Forés (Honda Racing) +12.736s
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +14.603s
- Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +15.302s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) 645
- Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 617
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) 580
- Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 559
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 538
- Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 530
