Padgett's Honda man Ian Lowry has taken his first ever British Superbike win, finishing nearly three seconds ahead of reigning champion Tommy Hill in the opening race at Thruxton this afternoon.
The former chef from Moira in Northern Ireland was the only rider who could live with Hill's blistering pace and shadowed the Swan Yamaha man until there only a handful of laps go and then dived under Hill on the brakes into Cobb, then promptly cleared off. He also assumes control of the points table too, with a lead of four points over Jon Kirkham.
Tyco Suzuki's Josh Brookes fought his way back from 13th on lap one to secure the final podium spot but
was some 13 seconds in arrears as he saw the chequered flag. Shane Byrne went past team-mate Stuart Easton on he last lap for fourth with Michael Laverty coming through from the fourth row to take sixth place.
Laverty's team-mate Lucas Scassa was mugged by Samsung Honda's Kirkham for seventh with the WFR Hondas of James Westmoreland and Graeme Gowland rounding out the top ten.
Michael Rutter had been sitting pretty in third but a holed radiator put him out at just after half distance while Noriyuki Haga also failed to finish, an oil leak forcing him off the circuit on lap seven.
Supersonic BMW's Tommy Bridewell finished in 11th with Dan Linfoot, Gary Mason, Barry Burrell and Alastair Seeley rounding out the top 15. Alex Lowes takes pole for race two after setting the fastest lap of the race but he could only finish 22nd.
Grid for race two
Lowes (pole), Lowry, Rutter, Hill
M Laverty, Byrne, Kirkham, Scassa
