There was a Storm coming in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the opening race at Snetterton as the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki team celebrated their first Superbike race win as Storm Stacey mastered the conditions to score his first victory ahead of Lewis Rollo by just 0.222s.
The race began with tyre choice proving crucial as the conditions continued to change following earlier rainfall. The riders who opted for the full wet tyre choice took the early advantage in the race as Ryan Vickers launched off the Omologato Pole Position ahead of Jason O'Halloran, Lee Jackson and Danny Kent.
Storm Stacey though had made the decision of the wet front tyre and intermediate rear, and as the track conditions changed, he was rapidly closing down their advantage on the LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki. He then took the lead on lap eight ahead of Kent, Vickers and O’Halloran. Meanwhile Jackson was forced to retire with a technical problem.
However, on lap nine the race was red flagged when Rory Skinner crashed out at Coram and as the race had not reached two-thirds distance it would be restarted over five laps. The rain began again before the race restarted and when it recommenced, everyone had switched to full wet tyres.
The race was restarted over five laps and it became a two rider fight for the victory with both Stacey and Rollo gunning for a debut victory in the Superbike class and it went down to the wire with the pair almost inseparable on the final lap.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Race 1 result:
- Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki)
- Lewis Rollo (IN Competition SENCAT Aprilia) +0.222s
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +6.369s
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +9.297s
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) +10.742s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati +15.906s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +16.270s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) +17.824s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +17.885s
- Franco Bourne (Rapid Honda) +25.004s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 141
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 141
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 128
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 125
- Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 124
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 96
- Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) 93
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 75
- Charlie Nesbit (MasterMac Honda) 72
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings BMW Motorrad) 65