Scott Redding was victorious in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at Snetterton this afternoon, heading off the challenges of Josh Brookes and Tarran Mackenzie to take his fifth race win of the season as Tommy Bridewell crashed out of the lead.

At the start of the race Mackenzie got an incredible launch off the line to lead the pack on the opening lap ahead of Brookes and Redding with Bridewell in fourth. The Oxford Racing Ducati rider was not happy to settle where he was and was instantly on the attack, moving ahead of Redding into Agostini for the first time.

On the fourth lap Bridewell had moved into second with a decisive dive down the inside at Riches, pushing Brookes back into third. At the front Mackenzie was trying to break the pack and had started to edge out a minimal advantage.

A lap later and Bridewell claimed the lead at the front of the field ahead of Mackenzie and Redding had moved into third. As Bridewell tried to make a break he made a mistake into Agostini a lap later and he crashed out unhurt.

Redding had moved into second and with Bridewell out of the race he captured the race lead, but behind there was an intense battle between Brookes and Mackenzie with the pair trading blows for several laps. The fight between the pair gave Redding the opportunity to edge out a gap, but Brookes was then able to get the better of Mackenzie and keep him behind over the closing stages. Brookes was trying to close the gap to his Be Wiser Ducati teammate but it wasn’t enough at the chequered flag.

Danny Buchan maintained his position inside the top six in the standings with a fourth place, but the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider had a lonely end to the race. However behind him there was a scrap between the Honda Racing pairing; Xavi Forés and Andrew Irwin colliding on the final lap but both formation flying to the finish line with the Spaniard having the edge at the chequered flag.

Peter Hickman was also in the group and he held off Luke Mossey for seventh place ahead of Jason O'Halloran who had a strong race to carve through the field from his seventh row start on the second McAMS Yamaha.

Christian Iddon completed the top ten, passing his Tyco BMW teammate Michael Laverty in the final moments of the race on his return after his Knockhill injury.