BSB: Hat-trick for O’Halloran at Oulton Park season opener

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) opened the season in immaculate fashion with a hat-trick at Oulton Park. After a relatively comfortable win in Race 1, the Australian beat Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) with clinical final lap manoeuvres in the two Sunday races.

It very much was the O’Halloran and Iddon show who had an edge over the field across the weekend. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) secured the remaining podium spot in Races 1 and 3 while Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) bagged the position in Race 2.

O’Halloran leaves Oulton Park with three wins and the championship lead, 15 points ahead of Iddon. Hickman sits third with a six points advantage over Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) who in turn holds two points over Bridewell.

RACE 1

Iddon shot into the lead from second on the grid ahead of O’Halloran and Mackenzie. Bridewell had a poor start and fell from pole to fourth but immediately moved past Mackenzie’s Yamaha up into third while Hickman sat fifth.

The top five broke away from the field as early as Lap 2 and rode a processional race in the opening stages. Mackenzie’s front tucked on Lap 4 and while the Scotsman somehow managed to stay on his bike, he dropped into fifth and lost ground to his rivals.

It took until the halfway stage of the race for the order to change out front when O’Halloran parked his Yamaha down the inside at Old Hall going into Lap 8 and claimed the lead from Iddon. Hickman meanwhile gradually lost touch and the race turned into a three-horse affair.

Iddon’s bike looked nervous on Lap 12 with twitches on the front and rear end. The Ducati’s troubles gave O’Halloran some breathing space and the Australian reacted swiftly with the fastest lap of the race to make the best out of the advantage.

O’Halloran brought his position over the line and became the first winner of the season from Iddon who comfortably held Bridewell behind him. Hickman and Mackenzie were fourth and fifth respectively while behind them, Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) prevailed in a fiercely contested group to take the chequered flag ahead of Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW), Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) and Ryan Vickers (RAF Regular & Reserve Kawasaki). Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) had all the work to do from a poor qualifying spot and just found his way into the top 10.

RACE 2

O’Halloran led into Old Hall from Iddon at the lights and the duo immediately put a couple of bike lengths between themselves and Hickman heading the pack. Iddon claimed the lead and the time and momentum lost due to the manoeuvre invited Hickman to slot into second and make it a breakaway trio.

Vickers was the first chaser in fourth ahead of Mackenzie, Bridewell and Irwin with around a one second deficit to the top group five laps into the race. However, Bridewell misjudged a move on Lap 5 and made contact with Mackenzie, sending them both wide and out of contention.

O’Halloran was in place to capitalise and retake second when Hickman came too close to Iddon on Lap 6 and had to back out. Irwin had meanwhile claimed fourth and a five-rider freight train lined up behind him with Danny Buchan (Synetiq BMW Motorrad), Vickers, Brookes, Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW) and Jackson at half-race distance.

With six laps to go, O’Halloran started to put pressure on Iddon for the lead while Hickman gradually dropped off the pace. The Ducati looked to have more grip left and stayed in front for the longest time while O’Halloran looked content to bide his time and save an attack for the final lap.

The Australian waited patiently through the opening sectors before he dived down the inside at Lodge and got his Yamaha stopped to steal the win. Hickman finished a lonely third while Buchan had prevailed in the battle for fourth ahead of Ray, Mackenzie and Brookes. Half a second behind, Jackson was eighth from Irwin and Ryde.

RACE 3

O’Halloran lead into Old Hall at the lights from second on the grid ahead of Iddon and Hickman. Iddon swiftly claimed P1 on the opening lap while Mackenzie slotted into fourth ahead of Ryde and Vickers.

Yet again the top trio ran superior pace and gapped the field early on. However, Mackenzie was on the hunt and caught the front runners on Lap 5, making it a four-way fight. Behind them, Bridewell was the fastest rider on track running in fifth and chipped away on the leaders’ advantage.

Bridewell was swarming all over Mackenzie’s rear tyre by Lap 10, prompting the Scotsman to make a move on Hickman on the brakes and claim third. The BMW rider, who was likely hit by arm pump problems, successively also fell victim to Bridewell and lost touch to the lead but held a comfortable advantage over Vickers in sixth.

Bridewell moved past Mackenzie into third on Lap 16 and was marginally quicker than O’Halloran and Iddon ahead of him. O’Halloran this time did not leave an attack to the final corner but claimed the Ducati in the first sector. Iddon tried desperately to hang on, but O’Halloran pulled out an advantage that guaranteed him the hat-trick at Oulton Park.

Iddon had to settle for second while Bridewell beat Mackenzie to the final podium spot. Hickman took the flag in fifth well ahead of Brookes who prevailed in close battle with Jackson and Buchan. Vickers was ninth while Irwin completed the top 10 in the final race.