Luke Mossey celebrated a debut win in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship this afternoon at Brands Hatch, keeping his cool to win the race for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team as pole sitter James Ellison crashed out.

Leon Haslam had led the pack on the opening lap ahead of Mossey and Ellison but two laps later McAMS Yamaha of Ellison had hit the front as Haslam ran wide at Druids. The leading trio were closely followed by Christian Iddon, but Ellison was trying to break the pack.

Ellison had edged out a small advantage, however his hard work ended with a crash at Druids as he slid out of contention on the twelfth lap. That left Mossey leading Haslam and Iddon with the scrap for second place intensifying – they traded blows before Iddon made a move at Paddock Hill Bend that kept Haslam in third.

Shane 'Shakey' Byrne though was closing in on Iddon and Haslam and with four laps to go he was within striking distance. Haslam knew the defending champion was gaining and he then made a move on Iddon and Paddock Hill Bend to move second. It was short lived when the Tyco BMW rider returned the move at Druids, but as they exited Graham Hill Bend, Haslam was back ahead.

At the front Mossey went on to claim the victory with Haslam just having the edge over Iddon and Byrne at the line. The Be Wiser Ducati rider had broken through the pack behind him that featured Dan Linfoot in fifth as the Honda Racing team made big steps forward with Glenn Irwin separating him from the second Fireblade of Jason O'Halloran.

Michael Laverty, Peter Hickman and Josh Brookes completed the top ten with Sylvain Guintoli retiring from the race with a technical problem.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race one result:

Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +3.529s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +3.802s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +3.920s
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +6.352s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +7.544s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +7.588s
Michael Laverty (McAMS Yamaha) +8.775s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +8.775s
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +10.853s


MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after race one:

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 70
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 56
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 45
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 36
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 35
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 28