Silverstone BSB: Shoubridge dominates with Ducati Cup double

Rich Energy Ducati’s David Shoubridge started the season in fantastic style dominating the opening round of the Ducati TriOptions Cup with a double win.

After being fastest throughout free practice and qualifying, Shoubridge led from start to finish and was never challenged when the the race ended abruptly on lap thirteen. Connor Rossi Thomson (Thompson Haulage/CRT Race Team) crashed out with a water leak bringing out the red flag. Second place went to series debutant and BSB regular Tom Tunstall (Motorcycle Race Parts), who finished 4.8 seconds adrift of Shoubridge.

Race one’s main fight was for the final podium place between Matt Jones (Dragon Racing), Max Lofthouse (JDF Racing) and Adon Davie (JDF Racing). Lofthouse looked secure in third, but some consistently fast laps saw Jones take it at the flag. Fourth place eventually went to Lofthouse with Davie fifth and Michael Tustin (AH Performance/Breckland Utility Solution) in a lonely sixth place.

Race two played out in completely different style, however, with two red flags curtailing the action.

Pole-sitter once again, Shoubridge launched from the initial start and soon began to pull away before the red flag came out on lap seven. The riders lined up for the restart and this time it was Lofthouse who got off to a flyer, leading for three of the six lap sprint race.

With Shoubridge hot on his heels, the lead swapped on lap four as the Rich Energy rider pulled out a healthy lead to the chequered flag. Although Lofthouse came over the line in second, he was later disqualified due to a tyre infringement promoting Tunstall, with another series rookie Mark Bridger (Moto46) grabbing a podium in his debut BSB weekend.

Tustin improved on his race one performance to take fourth