Bradley Ray continued his quest for a debut Bennetts British Superbike Championship title by claiming the opening race win of the Showdown in a dramatic eBay Sprint Race, as both McAMS Yamaha riders crashed out of contention to shake up the title fight.
Jason O'Halloran had grabbed the lead at the start of the race from Tommy Bridewell and Ray as the trio got the best launch from the front row.
Bridewell grasped the lead with a move down the inside at Shell Oils corner to move to the front of the pack, but Ray was on the attack. The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider made a move on O'Halloran at Druids, and then launched to the lead with a move on the brakes at Lodge.
Ray then was holding off the pack before making a break in the closing stages to claim his eighth win of the season, but Bridewell was able to return to the podium in second place and that saw him surge from eighth to fourth in the overall standings.
It was drama for McAMS Yamaha; reigning champion Tarran Mackenzie crashed out at Shell Oils corner on lap 12 as Bridewell now moves to within three points of the reigning champion ahead of tomorrow's two races.
On the final lap there was contact between O'Halloran and Hickman as the FHO Racing BMW rider went for a move at Druids. The McAMS Yamaha rider crashed out of the race, which then promoted Leon Haslam into a podium finish for the VisionTrack Kawasaki team.
Hickman crossed the line in fourth place ahead of Glenn Irwin who fought his way up to fifth for Honda Racing UK, getting ahead of Danny Buchan on the SYNETIQ BMW.
Lee Jackson battled his way back through the pack to finish seventh on the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki, with Christian Iddon completing the top eight for Buildbase Suzuki.
Title Fighters Rory Skinner and Kyle Ryde completed the top ten ahead of tomorrow's two Showdown races.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, eBay Sprint Race result:
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha)
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +2.765s
- Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +3.438s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +3.657s
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +4.022s
- Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +5.508s
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +7.537s
- Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +8.015s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +8.533s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +12.699s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1086
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 1048
- Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) 1031
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 1028
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 1027
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 1023
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1019
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) 1016