BSB: Buchan claims second victory of 2019 ahead of Brookes and Bridewell

Danny Buchan added to his Bennetts British Superbike Championship winning tally in the opening race of the day at Cadwell Park, fending off the fierce challenge from Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell to claim the victory.

Brookes had launched off the pole position into the lead on the opening lap from Buchan, Jason O’Halloran and Bridewell. However, the Oxford Racing Ducati rider was instantly trying to make a move and he dived ahead of O’Halloran on lap three to move ahead of the McAMS Yamaha contender.

Buchan was all over Brookes, but it wasn’t until the eleventh lap that he could make a move, which he did at Mansfield to snatch the lead. The FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider continued to try and break the chasing Ducatis of Brookes and Bridewell, but at the chequered flag he managed to edge a gap of 1.047s.

Buchan said: “I’m over the moon. I got a really good start and without Bradley Ray on the grid that opened up a gap in front of me. I knew that I had good pace all weekend, and Josh had good pace, so I was in second just riding a reasonable race.

“I saw my gap was closing behind and I didn’t know who it was, and at that point I thought podium is what I need and the podium points for the Showdown. I then thought I can get past Josh and I felt quite comfortable and brought it home for a win – I think I spent that whole in lap just shouting in my crash helmet! That was a bit different to Knockhill because it was a hard-fought win.”

Brookes kept Bridewell at bay to move within three Podium Points of Scott Redding as the championship leader missed out on a debut podium at Cadwell Park. The Be Wiser Ducati rider was able to carve his way up through the field in a hard-fought race, running tenth over the opening laps before scoring a strong fourth place.

Peter Hickman had been chasing down Redding; the pair able to take advantage of a mistake from Christian Iddon who had been running fourth, but ran off track on the final lap and managed to salvage sixth place.

O’Halloran was seventh as he held off the second Tyco BMW of Glenn Irwin who led his brother Andrew to the chequered flag; the Honda Racing rider still holding on to sixth place in the standings with four races remaining before the Showdown.

Ryan Vickers completed the top ten for the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki team ahead of Luke Stapleford and Gino Rea who impressed on his debut with Bike Devil Sweda MV Agusta.

Tarran Mackenzie held onto his positon in the Showdown after the opening race despite finishing 13th but is now just a single point ahead of Andrew Irwin, who holds a 12 point lead over Xavi Forés in seventh.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Race 1:

1. Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki)
2. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) +1.047s
3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +1.871s
4. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) +9.237s
5. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +10.982s
6. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +16.291s
7. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +17.050s
8. Glenn Irwin (Tyco BMW) +17.295s
9. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) +20.350s
10. Ryan Vickers (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki) +23.380s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Cadwell Park, Race 1:

1. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) 259
2. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 246
3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) 223
4. Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 175
5. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 147
6. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) 146