Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill put in a masterclass to win the first MCE British Superbike race at Cadwell Park this lunchtime, fending off a spirited charge by Alex Lowes for 12 laps before getting the hammer down to finish the thick end of three seconds in front.
WFR Honda's Lowes got away well with Hill and the Samsung Honda of Michael Laverty who passed Hill into Park on the first lap but it only took Hll two more laps to return the compliment at Coppice and Lowes followed him through at Mansfield.
Hill controlled the race from the front and was never under threat while Lowes rode sensibly to put in consistent laps and settle for much-needed points to bring him very close to a Showdown spot. Laverty's third place secured his place in the final six so there are only two spaces left.
Bathams Kawasaki's Danny Buchan nipped underneath the second Samsung Honda of Jon Kirkham to take fourth place after sitting behind him until there were only a couple of laps left. Veteran Karl Harris lost out to Josh Brookes for sixth on the last lap.
The Tyco Suzuki man didn't have the best of times in qualifying and had to push hard through the pack. He got on the back of the fight for fourth but just couldn't find a way past Quattro Kawasaki's Harris until the professional northerner made a couple of errors.
Lowes' team-mate James Westmoreland was solid for eighth place but came under pressure from Tommy Bridewell and Ian Lowry, who are both contenders for the final Showdown spot. Lowry got ahead of the Supersonic BMW man but then ran onto the grass and ended up in 12th behind Peter Hickman and Michael Rutter.
Mark Aitchison crashed early on and is currently receiving treatment in the medical centre.
Grid for race two:
Hill (pole), Lowes, Brookes
Laverty, Harris, Bridewell
Championship points:
Tommy Hill 291
Josh Brookes 256
Shane Byrne 255
Tommy Bridewell 131
Noriyuki Haga 113
Alex Lowes 112
Ian Lowry 110
