Jake Dixon held on to his King of Knockhill title after celebrating his first victory in the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship season in the opening race in Scotland for the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki team as Danny Buchan claimed FS-3 Racing Kawasaki their first podium finish.
On the opening lap Dixon launched into the first corner in the lead, forcing ahead of Leon Haslam, Glenn Irwin, Josh Brookes and Buchan, but the championship leader was instantly on the attack and he made a move at the Hairpin to take the lead.
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The leading five – Haslam, Dixon, Irwin, Buchan and Bradley Ray had edged ahead, but Dixon was looking for his opportunity. Buchan though had other ideas and he targeted a move on Dixon at the Hairpin but it wasn’t enough and he had to tuck back behind the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki.
Dixon was pushing Haslam and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider made a mistake at the Hairpin on lap 25 which put him slightly wide at the Hairpin and Dixon didn’t need an invitation as he carved his way ahead on a tighter line.
Buchan also had Haslam in his sights and the pair almost collided on the exit of the Hairpin as the pair dragged up the hill to the line, with the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider then holding the advantage to push the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider back into third place.
Irwin was holding off Ray as he held an advantage on the leading Be Wiser Ducati with the Tyco BMW pairing of Michael Laverty and Christian Iddon fighting all the through the race with Laverty holding the advantage at the finish line.
Brookes ended the race in eighth place as he fought off Richard Cooper on the second Buildbase Suzuki and Peter Hickman completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, Race one result:
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki)
Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +1.709s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +1.917s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +2.779s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +4.421s
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +6.903s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +7.501s
Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +7.611s
Richard Cooper (Buildbase Suzuki) +9.304s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +14.458s
UPDATE 15:20: Race Direction info: Drop of one position in race result for #83 (Danny Buchan) – overtook #91 (Leon Haslam) within yellow flag zone between Turn 1 and Turn 3.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Knockhill race one:
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 181
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) 116
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) 112
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 98
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 92
Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 83
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