Stuart Easton took his first victory of the season in the opening race of the third round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park where Michael Laverty enjoyed his maiden success in the series next time out.

Tommy Hill, finishing in second and third placings, maintaining his highly consistent start to the campaign aboard the Worx Crescent Suzuki and tightened his grip on the title chase, moving 125-76 points clear of Easton who was sidelined by an electronics problem midway through the second, wet race.

The opener was run in near perfect conditions and Flying Scot Easton made a great start running clear of Hill but there was little between them as they slugged it out over 18 laps.

“I made a really good start but Tommy Hill was always there – I was watching my times and checking the pit-board which ever lap said +0. He was so close all of the time and I thought if he’s coming, then it is up to him, but, he could not get through and I held him off to take the win. It was hard, all of the way,” explained Easton after his victory by just 0.058 seconds.

Hill tried everything he knew to find a way past, but had to settle for second with John Laverty chalking up his best result in the series, taking third for Buildbase Kawasaki, and that thanks largely to a dramatic last lap on which he charged past Josh Brookes and Alastair Seeley.

A rain shower in between races concentrated the minds of riders and teams as they ran a short wet practice session, but most opted to run on full wet tyres on a Cheshire circuit that soon began to dry.

Michael Laverty, fifth in the opener, was quick off the line, running his Relentless Suzuki by TAS out front throughout a race decided over 15 laps while behind him Michael Rutter, aboard the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati, overcame the challenges of Ryuichi Kiyonari to be running second.

Hill, cautious in the early stages, upped the tempo to come through into third ahead of Kiyonari and John Laverty.

“That was awesome, and to be honest easy despite everything,” said Michael Laverty. “I was able to get out front and control the race from the front, and was able to look after my tyres, as it was all so smooth. After the bad luck I’ve had in earlier rounds, this really means a lot to me and the team,” he added.

Hill meanwhile was happy that he had racked up more strong points: “I had the championship in mind at the start and though I was struggling for grip, I knew that I could not let them get away, so I had to push on. To take third and come away with consistent points and an increased lead in the championship is great.”

Hudson Kennaugh, riding for MAR Kawasaki, completed a daily double in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class, to take the lead in the standings, 106-103 over MIST Suzuki rider David Anthony, third and fourth. Steve Brogan and Aaron Zanotti took the second placings.


MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship – round three
Race one – 18 laps:
Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 28m 55.815secs
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.058s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +10.399s
Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.843s
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +10.849s
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +11.073s
Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +23.428s
Chris Walker (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +27.478s
Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) +35.997s
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +36.709s

Race two – 15 laps:
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 27m26.150secs
Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +6.00s
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +11.333s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +16.029s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +23.590s
Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +27.258s
Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +30.287s
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +30.283s
Hudson Kennaugh (MAR Kawasaki) +32.463s
Adam Jenkinson (Buildbase Kawasaki) +54.950s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings:
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 126
Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 75
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 74
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 65
Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 63

Next round - Cadwell Park, May 21/22/23