Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes took the victory in the final MCE British Superbike race of the day at Oulton Park and ended up having a 7.5 second advantage over Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne.

The win had eluded the Australian so far this weekend, but after two second place finishes he bagged the maximum 25 points ahead of Byrne and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot. It was day of first's for Linfoot after he managed to hold off Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari to bag his maiden BSB podium. The dark rain clouds threatened to open over the Cheshire track but fortunately for the riders the bad weather stayed away.

Initially, Brookes blasted his way out of the starting blocks to get the hole-shot from Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s team-mates Byrne and Easton, and it was declared a dry race and most of the riders were on slick tyre option.

By lap two the Australian had a one second  lead over the chasing pack, which also involved Kiyonari, Linfoot and Waters. Meanwhile it was not a good start for Jenny Tinmouth as she went back to the pits with a technical problem. WD-40’s Barry Burrell also suffered a bike problem and went back to the pits after nine laps.

Tyco Suzuki's Josh Waters was ploughing on ahead and got the better of Walker to go into sixth, just behind Linfoot on lap five. A rotation later Kiyo was trying to move into third and attempted a move at Cascades, but the Scot was too strong and stayed in third.

With seven laps remaining Byrne pulled away from Easton, and in turn Brookes edged on further ahead from second placed Byrne and had a 2.6 second advantage. Further down the field Waters out-paced Linfoot to go into fifth, for potentially his best result in the dry. But Linfoot hit back at Shell to re-take fourth on lap nine.

Kiyo made a move going into Lodge but then made a mistake allowing Easton and Linfoot to go back through with eight laps remaining, just as light rain started to fall on the track. As Linfoot made a move to go into third on the Scot, the rain flags went out on the side of the circuit.

Meanwhile Bridewell was matching the pace of Waters and got the better of the Aussie to go into sixth. Linfoot and Easton were making their way closer to Byrne – closing the gap to 0.5 seconds with three laps remaining, and at Old Hall make a move on Byrne to go into second. But Byrne soon fought back.

But while all the drama was happening at the front, Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins crashed while in 13th, at Old Hall, with Bathams BMW’s Patric Muff falling in the same spot seconds later. Both were declared OK at the trackside.

On the final lap Kiyo find some extra pace and passed Easton at Shell, and began to charge down Linfoot but it was too little too late and Linfoot bagged his first podium in the class, to finish in fourth.

Kiyonari had to settle for fourth after his double victory earlier this week, with Easton completing the top five. Waters held off the charges of Walker and Bridewell to end his day in sixth – for his best result in the dry. Halsall Racing’s Jon Kirkham and Millsport Ducati’s Jakub Smrz rounded off the top ten.

Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Glen Richards and Scott Smart finished the weekend well inside the points, with a 12th and 14th place finishes. Tsingtao’s Gary Mason just missed out on taking home some points for his team and had to settle for 18th.

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