BSB: Redding lights up Assen to lead Showdown into Donington Park

Scott Redding completed a stunning double victory in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Assen to fire himself to the top of the standings ahead of his Be Wiser Ducati teammate Josh Brookes with the next round of the Showdown at Donington Park in two weeks’ time (October 4/5/6).

At the start of race two Luke Stapleford had launched his Buildbase Suzuki off the line to lead the pack into turn one ahead of Redding, Tommy Bridewell and Brookes. The 2015 champion was instantly on the attack though and he moved into third after making a move on the Oxford Racing Ducati ahead of him.

The pack were inseparable but a mistake from Stapleford exiting the final chicane on the third lap scattered the pack and it gave Bridewell the opportunity he needed to move into second with Brookes and Redding then hunting him down.

A lap later and a determined Brookes had captured the lead with Stapleford separating the Be Wiser Ducati teammates with Jason O’Halloran and Danny Buchan also in close contention.

By lap seven Redding had made a decisive move into second and he then had Brookes in his sights before taking the lead a lap later with a dive down the inside. From there Redding tried to make a break, but he was hounded by Brookes initially.

Bridewell had his sights set on a podium to make amends for his crash in the opening race and by lap ten he had moved into third, to push Stapleford back down into fourth on the Buildbase Suzuki.

Redding then edged out his advantage, but the battle for second was becoming increasingly fierce; Brookes was holding off Bridewell, Buchan and Stapleford but with two laps remaining the Australian was under attack.

On lap 17 Bridewell moved into second and that pushed Brookes slightly off line, which gave Buchan the chance he needed to force through into third for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki. Despite his best counterattack, Brookes couldn’t regain the positions and he missed out on the podium by 0.311s, leaving Assen 14 points adrift of Redding in the standings.

Bridewell and Buchan scored their first podium finishes of the Showdown in the second race with Stapleford again just missing out after his best weekend of the season so far in fifth.

Honda Racing’s Xavi Forés led the next pack home to the chequered flag to hold off race one podium finisher O’Halloran and Showdown contender Peter Hickman in eighth. Dan Linfoot and Bradley Ray completed the top ten with Tarran Mackenzie ending a tough weekend in 13th.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Assen, Race 2 result:

1. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati)
2. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +3.385s
3. Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +3.518s
4. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) +3.829s
5. Luke Stapleford (Buildbase Suzuki) +7.772s
6. Xavi Forés (Honda Racing) +10.523s
7. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +11.406s
8. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +13.452s
9. Dan Linfoot (Santander Salt TAG Yamaha) +14.441s
10. Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +14.591s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings after Assen:

1. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) 595
2. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 581
3. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) 544
4. Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) 540
5. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 527
6. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 517