BSB: Three from three at Brands Hatch, Iddon maintains title lead

Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha), Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) and Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) shared the race wins at Brands Hatch between each other.

Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) challenged the McAMS Yamahas to the line in Races 1 and 2. However, both times he had to narrowly surrender to Mackenzie and O’Halloran respectively. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad) had a strong weekend and only just missed the podium with P4 in all races.

Iddon stays in the championship lead after Round 3 with a six points advantage over O’Halloran. Mackenzie is third 26 points off the top and holds seven points over Buchan in third.

RACE 1

Polesitter Mackenzie took the holeshot into Paddock Hill Bend untroubled, instantly pulling a gap. Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing BMW) shot into runner-up from the second row ahead of Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki). The Scotsman claimed P2 with a brave manoeuvre and although Ray fought back, the Kawasaki stayed ahead.

The red flag came out on Lap 2 due to Brad Jones (iForce Lloyd & Jones BMW) crashing and being attended to at Clark Curve. After a lengthy delay, the race restarted according to the original grid positions for a 12-lap sprint.

Mackenzie yet again took the holeshot, but Ray did not allow the Yamaha rider to break. However, Ray swiftly surrendered to Iddon who swept past down Brabham Straight and claimed P2 at Paddock Hill Bend.

Iddon shadowed Mackenzie but refrained from a serious attempt to overtake. Bridewell was on the move and punched his way through the pack, hitting runner-up on Lap 4.

A top 4 had broken away at halfway distance with Mackenzie, Bridewell, Iddon and Buchan. Ray was running in a lonely fifth ahead of the FS-3 Kawasaki teammates Lee Jackson and Skinner. O’Halloran was up to eighth after starting down the order due to a crash in qualifying.

The race turned processional out front with no one looking likely to line up a manoeuvre. Skinner meanwhile, feeling the effects of recent arm pump surgery, dropped pace and fell behind O’Halloran.

Mackenzie and Bridewell shook off their chasers and went into the final lap as a leading duo. The pair was separated by two tenths, but Bridewell had nothing to deny Mackenzie victory. Iddon completed the podium while Buchan in fourth secured pole position for Race 2 with the fastest lap.

O’Halloran’s charge ended in fifth from Jackson, Ray and Skinner.

RACE 2

Buchan shot into the lead at the lights ahead of Mackenzie, Iddon and O’Halloran. Mackenzie got overtaken by Iddon at Hawthorns and unsettled by the move, he successively dropped more positions.

A trio of Buchan, O’Halloran and Iddon broke away while Mackenzie picked his way back into fourth. The Yamaha rider had the leaders in sight but was challenged by Bridewell who moved past on Lap 5.

O’Halloran claimed the lead off Buchan through Sheene Curve and Stirlings on Lap 5. The BMW rider got further squeezed back when Iddon too overtook at Paddock Hill Bend and relegated him to third.

Bridewell meanwhile chipped away at the gap, dragging Mackenzie with him to make it a top quintet by Lap 7. Skinner was running behind in a lonely sixth.

The race was processional at the halfway stage. Although the front riders had looks at each other, no one forced a move and the order stayed the same.

O’Halloran managed to gain some breathing space and, unwilling to let him escape, Bridewell picked his way into second. The duo broke and left Buchan, Iddon and Mackenzie to battle it out for third.

Bridewell reeled in O’Halloran but could not close him down and the Australian brought his advantage over the line. Mackenzie punched his way into the lead of the chasing group and led Buchan to the chequered flag. Iddon lost some ground in the dying stages, but kept Skinner behind him.

RACE 3

Although the race was declared wet, the drying track but uncertain weather made the tyre choices difficult. O’Halloran took the holeshot from pole, but it was Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) on full wets who picked his way into the lead. Buchan was second from Dan Linfoot (TAG Honda) and Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing).

Brookes stretched out a gap and the only rider able to answer the call was Buchan. The BMW on an intermediate rear closed in and overtook on Lap 5.

As the track continued to dry, Iddon found pace on the inter front, slick rear. At halfway distance, he claimed Irwin for third and edged in on his teammate Brookes. Buchan already had a significant advantage, but Iddon now had superior pace.

O’Halloran on inters was up to fifth while Bridewell and Mackenzie struggled in ninth and 13^th respectively.

Gino Rea (Buildbase Suzuki) brought the red flag out on Lap 12 when his Suzuki blew up down Brabham Straight. Tyre changes were authorised for the restart and the riders went into a 7-lap sprint on slicks.

Buchan maintained P1 chased by Irwin and the VisionTrack Ducatis. Punches were exchanged on the opening lap and Iddon led a breakaway duo with Buchan and Irwin. Brookes headed Mackenzie in the chasing group.

Irwin dropped pace and positions on Lap 4, falling into sixth behind O’Halloran. The top 5 bunched back together and the result was unpredictable with two laps remaining. O’Halloran punched his way past Brookes who lost touch going into the final lap.

O’Halloran got past Buchan at Stirlings and while he made the move stick, it cost him ground to the top. Mackenzie was all over Iddon in the final sector, but the Ducati ride just managed to cling on to his position.