Danny Kent claimed a debut Bennetts British Superbike Championship race win in the opening contest of the weekend at Brands Hatch as he took McAMS Racing Yamaha team to their first Superbike victory.

Ryan Vickers launched off the Omologato Pole Position to lead the pack on the opening lap from Danny Kent and Josh Brookes, whilst the race was over for Billy McConnell and Rory Skinner who crashed out at Hawthorns.

Vickers held the lead until lap nine when Kent launched ahead and the McAMS Racing Yamaha rider delivered an inch perfect performance to take his first win in the Championship on his 100th race start to become the ninth different race winner of the season.

Behind Tommy Bridewell had carved his way up the order to third by lap seven and then the Honda Racing UK rider broke the chasing pack to claim third place and in doing so move to within a single point of Ryde ahead of tomorrow’s two title-deciding races.

Ryde was able to take fourth place on the final lap with a decisive move on Peter Hickman at Surtees; the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider maintains his marginal advantage ahead of tomorrow’s decider.

Glenn Irwin had been showing his determination again to move from his 15th place grid position into fourth and rapidly closing on Bridewell ahead of him, but the Hager PBM Ducati rider crashed out at Graham Hill Bend unhurt. The DNF puts him 70-points adrift of Ryde with a maximum of 70 available from the two races tomorrow.

Max Cook was able to take sixth place ahead of Brookes and Lewis Rollo, who had been running second earlier in the race on the BSB Pathway specification In Competicion SENCAT Aprilia. Storm Stacey and James Wesmoreland completed the top ten.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race 1 Result:

1. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha)
2. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +1.625s
3. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +6.366s
4. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +14.877s
5. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +15.433s
6. Max Cook (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +16.688s
7. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +17.076s
8. Lewis Rollo (In Competicion SENCAT Aprilia) +25.207s
9. Storm Stacey (Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki) +26.812s
10. James Westmoreland (Team IWR Honda) +46.440s

For the full race result please click here

 Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:

1. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 422
2. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 421
3. Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 352
4. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 325
5. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 295
6. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 261
7. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) 243
8. Leon Haslam (ROKiT Haslam Racing BMW Motorrad) 218
9. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 207
10. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 193

For the full standings please click here