Honda Racing carried on from where they left off on Saturday as Andrew and Glenn Irwin again finished first and second in Sunday’s opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Donington Park.

However, that didn’t tell the whole story as up to six riders disputed the lead and it was only on the last corner of the last lap that Andrew took the lead with brother Glenn having led from the very first lap. They just held off the McAMS Yamaha of Jason O’Halloran on the run to the line.

After cool conditions in the morning, the sunshine broke through for the 26-lap race and it was Josh Brookes who grabbed the holeshot on the VisionTrack Ducati. Glenn Irwin took the lead shortly afterwards as Andrew found himself out of the saddle at the Old Hairpin and dropped back to fifth.

The same fate befell Tommy Bridewell at Redgate two laps later but by lap six, it was clear Brookes was encountering issues as he dropped back to sixth. By this time the two Irwins were at the front closely followed by Christian Iddon, O’Halloran and the recovering Bridewell.

Just 1.5s covered the top seven at the end of lap ten but another rider to hit trouble was Peter Hickman as he ran into the gravel at the Old Hairpin and two laps later Brookes’ woes continued as he slipped back to eighth.

The top six began to break away with just six laps to go and Bridewell began to make his move, taking third at Craner Curves on lap 21. The two Irwins continued to hold sway though and in the final few laps Iddon dropped back to tenth.

On lap 24, Bridewell had a massive moment as he lost the front going into the chicane and had to take to the gravel which dropped him back down the order and it now looked to be a straight battle between the flying Irwins and O’Halloran.

Glenn looked like he’d turn the tables on Andrew but the latter got a good drive out of Coppice on the final lap and having drawn alongside, he took the lead at the final chicane to take his second win of the weekend.

Glenn had to lift up and subsequently run wide but he held off O’Halloran to take second place once more with Kyle Ryde coming through the pack to take a fine fourth just ahead of Danny Buchan and Brookes who battled back to sixth.

Tarran Mackenzie, Iddon, Bridewell and Hector Barbera completed the top ten.