Samsung Suzuki's John Hopkins has won the opening British Superbike race at Donington Park this morning after a thrilling 20-lap encounter which saw four of the main Showdown men lead the race before tyre wear came into play.
Hopkins took the lead from Swan Yamaha's Michael Laverty with four laps left to go and, despite showing the American a wheel and leaving a front-tyre darkie on the entrance to Coppice, the Irishman didn't have an answer so took second with team-mate Tommy Hill occupying the final podium spot.
HM Plant Honda's Shane Byrne dived into the lead ahead of Hill, Hopkins and Laverty but as they went down the Craner Curves Laverty was looking for a way through and tried a sucessful move on Byrne into McLeans.
Hopkins went past Hill into the Esses for third on lap two as Scott Smart crashed unhurt at Coppice. The Moto Rapido Ducati man re-joined but ended up going back down pitlane. Byrne made a pass on Laverty stick into the Old Hairpin and tried to make a break.
On lap six, Hill was back past Hopkins for third as and then, two laps later, he took second from his team-mate on the way into Goddards. but then tried a lunge past Byrne for the lead on the brakes as he was suffering with a sick engine and said it felt down on power.
This pushed them both wide and allowed both Laverty and Hopkins to occupy first and second as they crossed the line with the American going into Regate in the lead. As the laps counted down, Byrne's rear tyre properly gave in and he fell to a distant fourth after Hill made third his own into Goddards.
Jon Kirkham took the second Samsung Suzuki into fifth with Josh Brookes pushing through to fifth, going past the Tyco Honda of Peter Hickman with six laps remaining. James Ellison grabbed his best BSB result of the year in eighth with Martin Jessopp ninth.
WFR Honda's Graeme Gowland took tenth and was first Evo bike home, just ahead of team-mate James Westmoreland, also on an Evo. MSS Kawasaki debut man Ian Lowry finished in 12th with Glen Richards making it an all WFR Evo podium. Tommy Bridewell and Barry Burrell completed the top 15.
Ryuichi Kiyonari's title challenge is now pretty-mcuh over after his HM Plant Honda expired at the Esses and he didn't finish.
Grid for race two:
Hopkins (pole), Byrne, Laverty, Hill
Kirkham, Hickman, Kiyonari, Brookes
Championship points:
Hill 545
Hopkins 543
Byrne 535
Laverty 530
Brookes 519
Kiyonari 508
