BSB: Redding wins as Brookes snatches second from Bridewell at the finish line

Scott Redding claimed the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory of the weekend at Oulton Park, holding off the challenges of Josh Brookes and Tommy Bridewell, with his Be Wiser Ducati teammate snatching second from Bridewell at the line, with an incredible 0.198s covering the top three at the chequered flag.

At the start of the race Bradley Ray hit the front of the pack ahead of Brookes, Redding, Jason O’Halloran, Danny Buchan and Christian Iddon. However, after missing out in yesterday’s race Bridewell was instantly on the attack and made a move on Redding to claim second position on the run into Old Hall on the second lap.

A huge crash for James Ellison caused a BMW Safety Car deployment on the fourth lap to clear the debris at Hilltop whilst he was uninjured, but when the race resumed after two laps Bridewell was back fighting for the lead, which he claimed with a move on Ray at Lodge on the brakes.

A lap later and Redding had moved into second with a move on Ray into Old Hall for the seventh time, before the Be Wiser Ducati rider hit the front of the pack with a move at Hizzys on lap 12.

Redding, Bridewell, Ray and Brookes were inseparable and then yesterday’s race winner Brookes went for a move on the Buildbase Suzuki at Lodge to move into a podium position.

The trio began to marginally break away from the Buildbase Suzuki contender, but Redding had to defend hard from Bridewell who continues to fight for the team’s first win in the series. On the final lap he went for an audacious move around the outside at Lodge, but it wasn’t enough and gave Brookes the drive he needed to the line to snatch second at the chequered flag.

Ray claimed another strong finish in fourth place after his podium yesterday, but behind there was a tough battle for fifth place but Danny Buchan had the edge after confirming his Showdown place yesterday.

Jason O’Halloran was the leading McAMS Yamaha rider in sixth as he held off the challenge from Christian Iddon who is still fighting for a top six position in this afternoon’s third race for Tyco BMW.

An impressive effort from the eighth row of the grid, Peter Hickman claimed eighth place to move into sixth place in the overall standings and seven points ahead of the Honda Racing teammates Andrew Irwin, who was forced to sit out race two after a penalty, and Xavi Forés.

Tarran Mackenzie edged closer to confirming a Showdown place with a ninth place finish on the second McAMS Yamaha with Luke Mossey completing the top ten with OMG Racing Suzuki.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 2 result:

1. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati)
2. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.131s
3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +0.198s
4. Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +2.903s
5. Danny Buchan (FS3-Racing Kawasaki) +10.818s
6. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +10.912s
7. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +12.626s
8. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +14.989s
9. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +18.285s
10. Luke Mossey (OMG Racing Suzuki) +22.183s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Oulton Park Race 2:

1. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 316
2. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) 300
3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) 259
4. Danny Buchan (FS3-Racing Kawasaki) 215
5. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 166
6. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 153
7. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) 146
8. Xavi Forés (Honda Racing) 146
9. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 145