Jake Dixon celebrated his first MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race win with a classy performance in the opening race at Knockhill as the RAF Reserves Kawasaki rider hit the front of the chasing pack and held off Luke Mossey to seal an emotional victory.

On the opening lap Dixon fired off the front row of the grid to lead the pack as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and Jason O'Halloran clipped on the run into turn one for the first time, pushing them down the order.

At the front James Ellison was tucked in behind Dixon with Mossey in close contention, but O’Halloran had made back some places and he was soon on the attack and by the start of lap four, the pair had pushed Ellison back to fourth.

Ellison fought back a lap later at the Hairpin to pass O’Halloran, but on lap six the McAMS Yamaha rider slid out of contention at turn three. O’Halloran was soon coming under pressure from his Honda Racing team-mate Dan Linfoot; the Australian was pushed back a place at the Hairpin, but on the brakes Linfoot lost the front end and tipped out of contention.

The leading pair of Dixon and Mossey had edged an advantage but the battle for third then became a three-way fight between O’Halloran, Byrne and home hero Taylor Mackenzie who was having his strongest performance of the season for Bennetts Suzuki.

Byrne was pushing to make a move and on lap 16 the Be Wiser Ducati rider emerged ahead after a decisive move at the Hairpin. The defending champion was able to hold off O’Halloran to the chequered flag to cross the line third behind Dixon and Mossey.

Josh Brookes had been pushing to bag the points for the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team, but the Australian was another rider to crash out at the Hairpin unhurt.

Mackenzie scored his best result in fifth place with Peter Hickman moving to sixth for Smiths Racing BMW after Bradley Ray crashed put unhurt on the Buildbase Suzuki. John Hopkins ended the race in seventh place for Moto Rapido Ducati with Sylvain Guintoli, Lee Jackson and Michael Laverty completing the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, Race one result:

Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki)
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +3.740s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +6.159s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +6.670s
Taylor Mackenzie (Bennetts Suzuki) +9.907s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +13.730s
John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +15.038s
Sylvain Guintoli (Bennetts Suzuki) +17.152s
Lee Jackson (Smiths Racing BMW) +17.481s
Michael Laverty (McAMS Yamaha) +21.952s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after race one:

Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 128
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 111
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 86
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 74
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 74
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 67