Hickman wins hectic opener, Haslam falls, Byrne sixth

Click here for full BSB race one results at Brands Hatch

Peter Hickman has claimed victory honours for JG Speedfit Kawasaki in a crazy opener at the season finale of the MCE British Superbike championship as Leon Haslam crashed out to lose ground in the title race with Shane Byrne surviving to finish sixth.

In a race which saw two separate restarts and a safety car period, Hickman held his nerve to take his second win of the season in wet conditions to rise to the top in a hectic opener.

After the initial start was red flagged for a heavy crash with Howie Mainwaring-Smith and Filip Backlund, the first restart was abandoned after a handful of laps with drizzle emerging from the dark clouds overhead.

With a 40-minute delay as the rain set in the Kent track got darker with a 15-lap race declared. At the second restart title contender Haslam high-sided out at Graham Hill bend, landing heavily on his back and required a check over at the medical centre before being cleared for tomorrow's races.

With Haslam out of the race attention turned to BSB championship leader Byrne who was handed a golden opportunity to take control of the title race. The Be Wiser Ducati rider eventually eased home in sixth to extend his points leader over Haslam to 27 with two races remaining.

Ahead of the four-time champion, Hickman produced a masterclass of wet riding to win ahead of Tyco BMW's Christian Iddon and Byrne's team-mate Glenn Irwin.

Honda's Dan Linfoot strengthened his chances for third in the BSB championship with fourth place in front of Bennetts Suzuki's Tommy Bridewell as Byrne kept clear of ePayMe Yamaha's John Hopkins and Buildbase BMW's Lee Jackson.

With a host of riders crashing out in the wet - including Showdown contenders James Ellison and Jason O'Halloran - Alastair Seeley rose to ninth and Jakub Smrz in tenth.

Michael Laverty managed to get his Tyco BMW home in 11th ahead of Billy McConnell and Luke Mossey as Ryuichi Kiyonari and Vittorio Iannuzzo rounded out the points-paying places.

The race of attrition the initial start saw Broc Parkes high-sideed off on his ePayMe Yamaha with the bike unfortunately collecting James Risopli at Sheene Curve. On the third lap the first red flag was required when Filip Backlund and Howie Mainwaring-Smart clashed entering Hawthorns Bend which caused a high-speed off into the barriers with both riders requiring medical attention.

At the first restart Haslam enjoyed a brilliant start to get up to third while his title rival Byrne went backwards down to ninth at the end of lap one. Haslam had made it up to second before the second red flag of the race as rain fell heavier in the outer section of the Brands Hatch GP track.

After a 40-minute delay as the rain slowly set in all riders switched to wet tyres ahead of the second restart.

Despite a solid start for Haslam the title contender crashed out on the exit of Druids in the dash to Graham Hill bend while a corner later O'Halloran also went down in the wet.

There was heartbreak for a second JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider when Ellison suffered a nasty high-side at Graham Hill bend after battling through the running order into the lead. With Byrne maintaining his pace in the wet he secured sixth place and with it a 27-point lead in the BSB title race.