Stuart Easton won his first race of the 2015 MCE British Superbike season at Oulton Park in an extraordinary second race of the day.
The PBM Kawasaki rider took full advantage late-on in the race when Ryuichi Kiyonari and Shane Byrne collided going into Hislop’s Chicane.
Easton was joined on the podium by James Ellison and Josh Brookes, who had to play catch-up after a poor start to the race.
Race one victor, Tommy Bridewell, crashed out of the race early-on, losing the front of his Tyco BMW coming out of Hislop’s Chicane whilst in the lead.
The departures of Kiyonari and Byrne allowed Michael Laverty to finish in a season-best fourth place, just ahead of Jason O’Halloran and Howie Mainwaring-Smart.
Richard Cooper (7th) finished inside the top 10 once again, getting the better of Billy McConnell (8th) and Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Chris Walker (9th). Lee Jackson rounded-out the top 10 on the Buildbase BMW.
It was Easton who made the best start once again, this time managing to keep the lead throughout the opening few corners. Pole sitter, Brookes, made a terrible start after dropping the clutch too soon – causing his Yamaha to wheelie off the line.
Kiyonari took the lead going Lodge Corner at the end of the first lap, with Bridewell and Byrne following him through past Easton on the second lap.
Bridewell then took the lead on lap three but his race would soon be over, with the Tyco BMW man losing the front coming out of Hislop’s Chicane.
With Bridewell gone Kiyonari led the pack, just ahead of Byrne and Easton. Brookes soon found himself off the leading pack after running wide whilst under pressure from Ellison.
Byrne took the lead going through Shallow Hairpin, but Kiyonari fought back immediately and re-took the lead going through Lodge Corner.
Byrne soon found himself down in third following a great move by Easton going through the first corner. The reigning champion put a strong move on his teammate going down Cascades however and re-gained second.
One lap later and Byrne had the lead of the race and capitalising on a mistake from Kiyonari headings into Shallow Hairpin.
Kiyonari continued to put pressure on Byrne for the lead but went in too deep at Hislop’s Chicane and ran right into the back of Byrne – taking them both out of the race. Kiyonari landed on his shoulder and looked to be in some pain following the crash.
With the top two gone, Easton stepped-up and took the chequered flag despite the best efforts of Ellison, who tried going round the outside at the final corner.
Ellison now has the lead of championship heading into the six-week break, with an eight point lead of Byrne. Brookes is a further seven points behind in third, 14 points clear of Easton.
Oulton Park Race 2 Result
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