BSB Brands Hatch: Seeley wins in the rain

Relentless Suzuki rider Alastair Seeley won the first race of his BSB career when he took Saturday’s race of this weekend’s triple-header at Brands Hatch.

The first attempt to run the race was brought to an premature end by persistent rain then Seeley won the ten-lap restart in difficult wet conditions.

Seeley, starting sixth on the grid, took the lead on the first lap and maintained his advantage throughout the second part of the race.

He said: “It is unbelievable to have won the race and I feel on top of the world right now. This is what I came to BSB to do and the team gave us a good package to be up the front.

“It was a bit touch and go at the beginning as I just needed to push my way through and get to the front.

“I lost count how many times I had slides and felt like I was on the edge, but the top step of the podium is just the best feeling and I want to do the same tomorrow now.”

Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) was leading the first attempt to run the race, ahead of Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) and his team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari. In the restart, Rutter finished second, holding of Kiyonari and Brookes.
Kawasaki WSB rider Tom Sykes finished fifth, ahead of Seeley’s Relentless teammate Michael Laverty and James Ellison on the Swan Honda. Tommy Hill struggle to finish 15th on the Worx Suzuki and lost championship lead in the process to Brookes.

British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race one top ten results:
1. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS)
2. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +0.298s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +1.470s
4. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +2.926s
5. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki WSB) +14.320s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +17.241s
7. James Ellison (Swan Honda) +21.713s
8. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +23.516s
9. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +24.738s
10. Ian Lowry (Kawasaki WSB) +26.213s

British Superbike Championship top six standings after race one:
1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 229
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 219
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 209
4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 193
5. Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) 185
6. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 153