Glenn Irwin denied Leon Haslam his first race win of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship season as the BeerMonster Ducati rider celebrated his second victory of the season, making it three different race winners at round two. The Northern Irishman now take the standings lead by four points ahead of the next event at Donington Park (May 19/20/21).
Andrew Irwin was the rider with the best launch off the line to lead his brother Glenn and previous champions Josh Brookes and Leon Haslam with race two winner Tommy Bridewell and Kyle Ryde close behind.
On the third lap, Glenn Irwin made a move on his brother for the lead with a dive down the inside at Old Hall, and then Haslam was next to have the Honda Racing UK rider in his sights. The ‘Pocket Rocket’ made a pass of his own on the sixth lap to move into second.
A lap later, Haslam had a huge moment on the ROKiT BMW Motorrad into Old Hall and that meant he lost ground on Glenn Irwin ahead of him that he needed to claw back as he got back into his race rhythm.
Bridewell was then on the move and launched himself into third place to relegate Andrew Irwin back a further position, as Haslam split the BeerMonster Ducati teammates on lap ten.
Glenn Irwin was fending off the challenge but Haslam was typically determined, making a brave move into Old Hall on lap 12. The BeerMonster rider was unsettled, giving his teammate Bridewell the opportunity to move into second place.
Glenn Irwin was back into second at Lodge later on the same lap though with a decisive move on his teammate. He recaptured the lead a lap later when he passed Haslam on the brakes into Hizzys.
The leading pack were inseparable but Glenn Irwin had enough to hold the advantage to the finish on the final lap, with Haslam in second. Behind however, Ryde had been carving his way through and was into third after a dive down the inside on Bridewell at Hizzys with three laps to go.
Ryde held off Bridewell to the finish with Brookes claiming a top five finish ahead of his FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team teammate Peter Hickman and Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Christian Iddon.
Lee Jackson moved into eighth on the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki ahead of Andrew Irwin who eventually finished in ninth and Jason O'Halloran, who worked hard to secure a top ten finish after a 17th place grid start after his race two crash.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Race 3 result:
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati)
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +0.062s
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.357s
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +1.053s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +2.665s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +6.628s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +8.191s
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +8.332s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +11.580s
- Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +22.438s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 91
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 87
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 87
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 76
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Yamaha Racing) 73
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 44
- Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 41
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Racing Yamaha) 40
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 37
- Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 32
For the full standings please click here