Glenn Irwin prevented a Ducati whitewash in the final Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Snetterton and in doing so extended his title lead to 23 points.
Seventh at the end of the opening lap, the Honda Racing rider gradually worked his way to the front and once he’d taken the lead on the tenth lap, he was able to extend his advantage and he eventually came home more than a second clear of Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) and Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati).
It was pole man Iddon who grabbed the holeshot and led the field round at the conclusion of the opening lap but Ryan Vickers’ race was over as he highsided out of the action on the RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki.
Iddon led for the first three laps before Bridewell took over and Brookes took advantage at the same time to push his team-mate back to third although it was again close as less than a second covered the leading six riders.
All the time though, Irwin was moving forward and it was all change behind Bridewell on lap seven as the Ulsterman moved up to third with Iddon back up to second and Brookes down to fourth. Lee Jackson (Massingberd-Mundy Kawasaki) was again going great guns in fifth although Kyle Ryde lost touch with the leading pack when he hit trouble, albeit temporarily, on the Buildbase Suzuki.
Iddon went back to the front on the eighth lap and Bridewell found himself pushed back to third as Irwin also moved ahead. The Honda man was making his move and a lap later he took over in the lead after passing Iddon at Ago’s.
He promptly got the hammer down and by lap twelve his lead was more than a second as five riders were left to dispute second – Iddon, Brookes, Bridewell, Jackson and Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha).
Brookes moved up to second on lap 13 but Iddon retaliated at the very next corner and the Australian was soon back down to fourth as Bridewell also found a way past.
Going into the final lap, Irwin still had a one second advantage and he held on for his third career BSB win with Bridewell putting in a block pass on Iddon at the final chicane to take the runners-up spot. Brookes also lost out on the final lap and had to settle for fifth as Jackson outdragged him to the line with Mackenzie a close sixth.
Jason O’Halloran took seventh on the second McAMS Yamaha with a slightly subdued Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) in eighth ahead of Bradley Ray (Synetiq BMW) and Ryde who recovered to take tenth.
Irwin now leads the championship on 118 points followed by Bridewell (95), Iddon (86), Brookes (82) and O’Halloran (65).
