Leon Haslam secured a fantastic double at Cadwell Park after fending off a strong challenge from Jake Dixon in the second race of the day in Lincolnshire.
Dixon was all over the back of the championship leader going into the final lap, but Haslam defended his position going down into Park Corner and Dixon ended up going in too deep and went off the track.
The result means that Haslam has now won the double three times at Cadwell Park, having achieved the same result in 2007 and 2016. He now has nine wins to his name this season and is the strong favourite for the championship.
Dixon’s excursion off the track allowed Bradley Ray to take second once again, with Dixon slotting back into the final podium position.
Peter Hickman took an impressive fourth for the Smiths Racing BMW team, with the local man still suffering from a kidney infection. Glenn Irwin was next up in fifth, with Christian Iddon taking sixth in his 100th British Superbike race for Tyco BMW.
Michael Laverty bounced back from a difficult opening race to take seventh, finishing just ahead of Danny Buchan. Richard Cooper and Luke Mossey completed the top 10.
Before the race began there was drama for James Ellison and the Anvil Hire TAG Racing team. Ellison’s bike was still in the pits as the rest of the field began their warm-up lap. He managed to get the bike going and he joined them on the circuit, albeit now needing to start from the back of the grid. Despite the team’s best efforts though, Ellison was forced back into the garage at the race began.
As the start it was Ray who took advantage of a slow, unbalanced getaway from Haslam to take the lead. It was a terrible start from Tommy Bridewell, who dropped from the front-row, down to 10th. Meanwhile, Dixon slotted into fourth ahead of Irwin.
As the field settled into their rhythm, all of the entertainment was provided by Bridewell. The Ducati man fought his way back through to eighth by the end of the opening lap, before taking seventh away from Iddon at Park Corner.
Bridewell would pull the exact same move on Brookes the following lap, before doing the same to Hickman on lap four to take fifth. Bridewell was getting fantastic drive out of Charlies, which put him in a great position to make the move into Park. He ended the fourth lap by posting the fastest lap of the race.
Back at the front, Haslam took a brief look down the inside of Ray heading down to Park Corner before thinking better of it. Meanwhile, Bridewell had now set his sights on Irwin and repeated his move going into Park on lap six.
Disaster struck moments later as Bridewell lost the front going into Barn Corner, crashing out of fourth place. Andrew Irwin’s race also came to a premature end, as he crashed out of 13th place at Charlies. The drama continued on lap seven as Gino Rea’s engine gave way on the OMG Suzuki.
Bridwell’s crash meant that the front three now had a comfortable lead over the rest of the field. On lap eight, Hickman went down the inside of Irwin at Park corner for fourth.
Haslam took another little peek down the inside of Ray as the pair headed down the hill towards Park Corner, however he again thought better of it. Tarran Mackenzie crashed out of a top 10 position at Charlies on lap 10.
After another practice run on lap 11, Haslam finally made his move on Ray on the 12th lap – down the inside at Park Corner. Dixon would take immediate advantage by going down the inside of Ray at the Gooseneck. Meanwhile, Josh Brookes pulled into the pits and retired with a mechanical problem.
Dixon now had the momentum and would take the lead of the race as the leading duo headed down the hill into Park. Dixon and Haslam would pull away from Ray as the race entered the final couple of laps.
Haslam had Dixon right on his tail at the beginning of the final lap, and had to go defensive as they went down towards Park. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider dangled a defensive leg, however Dixon persisted with a move down the inside. Dixon went into the corner too hot and ended up going off onto the grass, allowing Ray through and for Haslam to take the victory.
