There was a Storm coming in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the opening race at Snetterton as the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki team celebrated their first Superbike race win as Storm Stacey mastered the conditions to score his debut race victory ahead of Lewis Rollo by just 0.222s.
The race began with tyre choice proving crucial as the conditions continued to change following earlier rainfall. The riders who opted for the full wet tyre choice took the early advantage in the race as Ryan Vickers launched off the Omologato Pole Position ahead of Jason O'Halloran, Lee Jackson and Danny Kent.
Stacey though had made the decision of the wet front tyre and intermediate rear, and as the track conditions changed, he was rapidly closing down their advantage on the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki. He then took the lead on lap eight ahead of Kent, Vickers and O’Halloran. Meanwhile Jackson was forced to retire with a technical problem.
However, on lap nine the race was red flagged when Rory Skinner crashed out at Coram and as the race had not reached two-thirds distance it would be restarted over five laps. Skinner was taken to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital with a suspected fracture to his right tibia and fibula.
The rain began again before the race restarted and when it recommenced, everyone had switched to full wet tyres.
The five lap restart became a two rider fight for the victory with both Stacey and Rollo gunning for a debut victory in the Superbike class and it went down to the wire with the pair almost inseparable on the final lap.
Rollo held the lead onto the final lap, but Stacey was pushing and he made a decisive move at Brundle to take the lead and was able to hold off his IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia rival to the line by the smallest of margins as the pair took their first podium finishes.
Kyle Ryde completed the podium for OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing, moving up the order by the third lap to nudge O’Halloran back to fourth on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki.
Glenn Irwin salvaged fifth place for the Hager PBM Ducati team after a crash in Speedy Hire Qualifying put him 14th on the grid and he was able to take advantage of the conditions. He now moves to the top of the standings, equal on points with reigning champion Tommy Bridewell who crashed out on the opening lap.
Christian Iddon was another rider to take advantage of the conditions, taking sixth place for Oxford Products Racing Ducati ahead of Andrew Irwin and Leon Haslam. Vickers eventually ended the opening race in ninth place whilst Franco Bourne scored his best result of the season in tenth.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 1 result:
- Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki)
- Lewis Rollo (IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia) +0.222s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +6.369s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +9.297s
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.742s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati +15.906s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +16.270s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +17.824s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +17.885s
- Franco Bourne (Rapid Honda) +25.004s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 141
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 141
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 128
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 125
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 124
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 96
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 93
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 75
- Charlie Nesbit (MasterMac Honda) 72
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW Motorrad) 65
For the full standings please click here