Swan Yamaha's Michael Laverty has taken his first British Superbike win of the year at Thruxton this afternoon, hitting the front at half-distance and never looking back while old stagers Michael Rutter and Shane Byrne scrapped it out for the podium spots in wet and miserable conditions.
HM Plant Honda's Byrne came through from dead last on the grid to challenge for second on the final lap but the wily Rutter rode round the outside of Byrne into the final chicane to take the spot and Byrne settled for third but by only 0.052s.
As the lights went out, Rutter led into the first corner with Samsung Suzuki's John Hopkins and the Tyco Honda of Peter Hickman in close attendance as poleman Alex Lowes went backwards into the pack and Laverty held a watching brief.
As Laverty made his way into third on lap four, Hickman traded places with Hopkins but eventually got the better of the American as Rutter went backwards before the Linconshire lad took the lead on lap five with a brave move at Goodwood.
He immediately put a gap on the pack while Lowes also fought his way through as Sorrymate Honda's Dan Linfoot staked his a claim on a podium spot. Lowes took the lead at the Complex on lap seven as Byrne crept up on the leading seven.
Lap eight saw Laverty take the lead from Lowes on the start/finish straight and he was never in danger of being re-passed while Rutter and Linfoot were held up by backmarkers Westmoreland and Baz who had chosen intermediate tyres.
Byrne made a pass on Linfoot for fourth into the Club Chicane as Rutter passed Hickman for second and Byrne followed him through a lap later. Byrne then made a move on Rutter up Woodhams Hill but the Midlander went round the outside to claim second.
Hopkins settled for fourth place just ahead of Hickman while Linfoot slid back to sixth ahead of Lowes. Primo Kawasaki's Chris Walker tool eighth ahead of Josh Brookes' Relentless Suzuki and Ryuichi Kiyonari rounded out the top ten. Tommy Hill opted for intermediate tyres and was forced to pit in halfway through, eventually finishing in 24th.
Barry Burrell was the first Evo rider home in 13th place, with Glen Richard directly behind and Patrick Muff one place further back in 15th overall.
Grid for race two:
Byrne (pole), Rutter, Hopkins, Laverty
Hickman, Linfoot, Brookes, Kiyonari
