Brookes ensures HM Plant double

Josh Brookes celebrated his race debut at Cadwell Park in fine style with a second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship victory of the day for HM Plant Honda.

Team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari had taken victory in race one but was forced to miss race two due to a technical issue that reared its head on the warm-up lap.

That left Brookes to uphold honours for HM Plant in its home race, and he held third at the start behind Michael Laverty and Michael Rutter; getting ahead of Rutter before the end of lap one to go second.

The Australian then made a move for the lead at Hall on the second lap as he dived down the inside of Laverty and was never headed until the race was brought to a premature end on lap 16 when Dan Linfoot suffered a fall at the bottom of the Mountain.

Laverty had looked good for second place until an error at the Chicane on lap 13 saw him run across the grass, which allowed Rutter behind to close in. Rutter himself was also under pressure from championship leader Tommy Hill who got ahead into third place on lap 13 and then took second from Laverty at the Hairpin on the following lap.

Hill and Laverty therefore completed the podium ahead of Rutter, while John Laverty and Tommy Bridewell completed the top six - the latter once again impressing on his three year old Honda and enjoying a lengthy battle with the MSS Colchester Kawasaki of Chris Walker.

Alastair Seeley took seventh ahead of Walker, with Martin Jessopp and Stuart Easton rounding out the top ten.

Steve Brogan took the Evo class win onboard his Jentin Racing BMW.