Christian Iddon takes his first British Superbike win of the year at Knockhill

The opening Bennetts British Superbike race at Knockhill saw VisionTrack Ducati's Christian Iddon take his maiden win of the season.

Iddon had been looking strong in Saturday's free practise sessions and continued his form into qualifying scoring a front row start, second on the grid for Saturday's 20-lap race. 

Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) initially led the pack from pole around the Scottish circuit, but it wasn't long before Iddon took the lead, with Synetiq BMW Motorrad's Danny Buchan's also passing the Yamaha rider just moments after Iddon to move into second.

Iddon ran wide at the Hairpin on Lap 6 allowing Buchan though, only for Buchan to momentarily lose the front of his BMW at the same corner a few laps later. Iddon retook the lead and went on to chase down the chequered flag to take his, and Ducati's, first BSB win of the year ahead of O'Halloran and Buchan.

Tommy Bridewell made several passes throughout the race to cross the finish line on his Oxford Products Racing Ducati in ninth, up from 14th on the grid. Iddon's VisionTrack Ducati teammate Josh Brookes had initially lined up one place ahead of Bridewell on the grid, going on to finish his race in twelfth.

Iddon and Brookes both have consecutive grid position for Sunday's first race tomorrow in second and thirteenth respectively, while Bridewell moves up onto the third row of the grid to start his race in eighth.

Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati #21) - 1st
"I had visions of Oulton Park going through my head. It's only a 20-lap race but for 15 of them I could just picture someone diving up the inside of me, it was haunting me! 

I just kept my head down, and raced my dash, raced my pit board. Danny came through and had really good pace and was really fortunate to save his front-end fold. I got back out in the lead, set my own pace.

I'm struggling with the bike. It seems so good it's sort of riding the track for me. I still don't feel like I've got the feeling I need, but we'll keep working. Thanks to the team. Glad to box that one off!"

Paul Bird - VisionTrack Ducati Team Owner
"It's been a strong start this year for Christian. Great at Oulton Park, and a win there. Really seems to be coming of age now, fitting in well with the team. Just got to get the other rider up to speed now. I'm sure once we get through Knockhill and maybe to Brands Hatch we'll see a different Josh Brookes."