— — Lowes takes BSB lead
Race one:
1: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda)
2: James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +3.348s
3: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +5.460s
4: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +6.655s
5: Tommy Bridewell (Bathams Honda) +6.808s
6: Peter Hickman (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +20.568s
Race two:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.788s
3: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.956s
4: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +11.927s
5: Tommy Bridewell (Bathams Honda) +12.066s
6: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) +28.214s
Championship standings:
1: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 117
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 116
3: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 96
4: James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 71
5: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 68
6: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) 43
Alex Lowes celebrated his first win of the MCE Insurance British 
Superbike Championship season which he followed up with a hard earned third place, to take a slender one point lead in the standings over the defending champion Shane Byrne who bounced back from a first race crash to win in the second race.
Samsung Honda’s Lowes carried the pace that earned him his second pole start into the opening race to lead at the start as Byrne tried everything to find a way ahead before disaster stuck for the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider as he slid off at Brittens, sending him crashing out of contention.
Lowes was ecstatic with his victory ahead of Milwaukee Yamaha’s Jame
s Ellison who had overcome a problematic qualifying position with a hard ride through the pack as Josh Brookes finishes third on the Tyco Suzuki.
“I’m overjoyed to win here at a circuit where I have struggled in the past and, my twin brother Sam won last week in the World Supersports, so I could not have him putting one over me. Now I have to stay consistent as it is long season,” said Lowes.
Byrne was determined to set the record straight next time out, surging into the lead but again Lowes was on the charge, moving ahead for three laps before the three times winner of the crown re-asserted himself, moving back in front at Cascades, en route to the 45th MCE BSB victory of his career.
“Winning was a bit of a way of saying sorry to the team for the first race. It was strange that the front should tuck in the way it did and before I knew it I was down looking at the daisies! But we turned it around in the second race and we pulled it off with the win,” said Byrne who held off the resurgent Brookes with Lowes a close third.
“It’s good to be in front in the standings and I am delighted to have maintained my 100% podium finishing record,” added Lowes. “The rising track temperature in the second race didn’t help me, but I am not making excuses – we had good battles and when Shane gets ahead he is always hard to beat.”
But there was no cheer for Michael Rutter who was making his 400th appearance in this round only to be blitzed with machine problems to his Bathams Honda which forced his retirement in both races.
— Milwaukee Yamaha Report
Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison celebrated a hard-fought podium in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Oulton Park today but was denied the chance to challenge for a repeat performance after an electrical problem forced him to retire in race two.
In race one Ellison carved his way through the pack and towards the end of the race was able to make a decisive move on Josh Brookes to claim second place and a front row start for race two. However in the second race whilst Ellison was challenging for the win he was forced out of contention with an electrical problem. Josh Waters scored a thirteenth place in race one but some improvements between races saw a stronger performance in race two as he was in the battle for seventh before ending the race in tenth place.
Ellison said: “It felt mega to be on the podium in race one because we knew 
it wouldn’t be easy from tenth on the grid after what happened in qualifying yesterday. I just got my head down and tried to find my way through, but Tommy Bridewell has really upped his game and he was hard to pass but I eventually got by him. I could then see Josh and I could see he was having a few issues; I made mistakes too towards the end but we still made the podium and that was the aim. It could have been two podiums but it wasn’t to be and we couldn’t capitalise on Shakey’s DNF. It was just unfortunate but we can now have a few weeks off and come back ready for Knockhill.”
Waters said: “The second race was better for me as I was in the top ten and that is where I want and need to be. I had lost a bit of confidence after the crash at Thruxton but now feel that I am getting more used to it. Obviously the Milwaukee Yamaha is good, James has proved that so now I just need to keep working at it. I knew that learning the circuits would be tough when I came over so I won’t be using that as an excuse, now I am getting a good feeling and can go forwards. I plan to watch and support the team in their road races and then get back to it at Knockhill.”
Team owner Shaun Muir concluded: “What can I say about this weekend; James had a brilliant performance in race one after what had been a tough qualifying session yesterday but a second place was a very good result. I was really sorry that a electrical fault cost him the chance to try and make it a repeat performance in race two, which I have no doubt he would have been there to challenge for at the end of the race. Josh came back strong in race two and he was battling in the group for seventh so he can head into the break before Knockhill feeling really positive.”
