Peter Hickman took his seventh career British Superbike Championship race win on Sunday, the FHO Racing BMW rider getting the better of Danny Buchan (Synetiq BMW) and Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) in the opening race of the day at Brands Hatch. The race started with front row man Tommy Bridewell forced to start from pitlane after his Oxford Products Ducati was wheeled off the grid and polesitter Glenn Irwin led the field at the end of the opening lap, closely followed by brother Andrew, Hickman, Buchan and Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha), the front five having opened up a small gap.
However, drama immediately followed as recently crowned champion Ray made a rare mistake and slid out of the action at Paddock Hill bend.
That meant the front four now had a two second advantage over Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) and Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) who were now running in fifth and sixth.
Hickman moved up to second on lap three and the BMW man took the lead at the start of the following lap, going up the inside of Glenn Irwin at Paddock Hill.