BSB: Dominant double for Dixon at Oulton

Jake Dixon kick-started his 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Showdown with a dominant double victory at Oulton Park this weekend, taking to the top step in both wet and dry conditions to eat into rival Leon Haslam’s lead.

Starting from pole position, the RAF Regular and Reserves rider bolted off the line to pull an impressive 1.4 seconds on the opening lap.

Stretching out a lead of up to six seconds, Dixon left Haslam with work to do as the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider looked to close him down in the second half of the race.

Haslam was able to reel Dixon in to just a second on the final lap but he wouldn’t get close enough to make a move leaving his main title rival with five valuable extra points.

Tommy Bridewell rounded off a strong weekend for the MotoRapido Ducati squad with a second podium in third place after coming out on top of a race long battle for second involving a number of riders throughout the race.

Jason O’Halloran and Michael Laverty were among those pushing for the rostrum, but both would dramatically crash out unhurt in separate incidents.

Tarran Mackenzie once again got the better of team-mate Josh Brookes for fourth with Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin completing the top six.

Luke Mossey, who has shown strong pace throughout the weekend, took seventh ahead of Peter Hickmanwhile Andrew Irwin and James Ellison completed the top ten.

Showdown contender Bradley Ray endured a nightmare second race as he crashed out of contention at Old Hall.

Dixon’s double sees him close Haslam’s series lead to 31 points ahead of the final two rounds.