BSB: The Hickman and O’Halloran show of Cadwell Park

Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) became the sixth different winner of the season at his beloved Cadwell Park. He comfortably won Race 1 and just fought off Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) to triumph in Race 2. O’Halloran narrowly beat Hickman to victory in Race 3 and extended his championship advantage.

The duo firmly dominated the meeting while Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) was the next best man with three third place finishes. Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) was searching for a podium all weekend but could just not exceed fourth. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) meanwhile was able to post great lap times but missed out over race distance due to a shoulder injury.

Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) was forced to sit out Races 2 and 3 due to an injury sustained in the opening race on Saturday. He lost ground to table leader O’Halloran in the standings and now trails his teammate by 119 points, level with Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati). Bridewell, Hickman, Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad), Irwin and Jackson occupy the remaining top 8 spots.

RACE 1

Irwin stayed in the lead from pole and pulled a slight advantage already on the opening lap. O’Halloran was his first chaser ahead of Hickman, Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad), Jackson and Bridewell.

Strong pace allowed Irwin to continue breaking away and the gap was up to over half a second going into Lap 4. In the chasing group, Hickman had taken charge while Iddon had joined the pack in seventh.

Halfway through the race, Irwin was still in the lead, but Hickman had closed him in and applied pressure. He capitalised on a mechanical issue that forced Irwin to sit up at the hairpin to steal P1. Behind, O’Halloran headed a relentless five rider freighttrain.

O’Halloran too claimed Irwin and went to hunt down Hickman, both escaping into the distance. The Irishman meanwhile fell into the clutches of brother Andrew who himself had his hands full with a charging Bridewell.

Hickman comfortably brought his advantage over the line for his first win of the season. O’Halloran finished a lonely second, but the fight for the podium was not over.

Bridewell claimed Irwin for third through Coppice on the penultimate lap and gained some breathing space. Iddon too was on the charge and troubled Irwin who now visibly felt his shoulder injury. The Honda rider just managed to stay ahead and Iddon had to settle for fifth.

RACE 2

O’Halloran stole the holeshot from polesitter Hickman who slotted into second. Iddon was third under pressure from Jackson while the Irwin brothers Glenn and Andrew lined up fifth and sixth.

The top eight ran superior pace and, riding processional, they pulled away from the field. Iddon’s title challenge suffered another blow when he lost the front at Charlies and crashed out on Lap 4. A gap opened behind a front quartet with O’Halloran, Hickman, Jackson and Glenn Irwin.

Bridewell was now the first chaser in P5 and gradually closed the gap, dragging Andrew Irwin with him. Hickman had seen enough on Lap 9 and executed a clean manoeuvre, sitting O’Halloran up coming out of Gooseneck and nipping underneath through Mansfield.

Hickman gained some breathing space while Jackson troubled O’Halloran for second, but the Australian was too strong on the brakes. The Kawasaki rider lined up a move through Hall Bends into the Hairpin on Lap 14 but failed to make it stick and fell victim to Bridewell.

Going into the final lap, O’Halloran had reeled Hickman right back in. Despite being close to the BMW, O’Halloran did not force a move and Hickman bagged his second win of the weekend. Bridewell completed the podium.

RACE 3

O’Halloran clinched the holeshot from the middle of the front row. Glenn Irwin was right behind the Yamaha and claimed the lead on the opening lap. Hickman was running third from Bridewell who had a poor getaway from pole.

Hickman claimed P2 on the third lap and had his sights set on Irwin ahead. Storm Stacey (Team LKQ Euro Parts Kawasaki) was mixing it up in the lead group with no hesitation to attack his opponents. He contested with the likes of Jackson and Iddon but an error eventually dropped him to the back of the pack.

The lead once more went to Hickman who dived underneath Irwin on Lap 5. The Irishman looked affected by his shoulder injury and successively also had to surrender to O’Halloran and Bridewell.

Halfway through the race, a front trio of Hickman, O’Halloran and Bridewell had stretched away from the field. Behind, Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) and Jackson were locked together on track, too far away from the leaders but comfortably ahead of the pack.

Bridewell was set in third, but ahead of him, O’Halloran had closed down Hickman. Going into the final lap, a tiny mistake resulting in a slide at Coppice allowed O’Halloran to sweep past. Hickman sought retaliation, but the series leader had the pace and made no mistake to bring P1 over the line.