Scott Redding claims his maiden British Superbike win at Donington Park

Scott Redding piloted his Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 R to a thrilling victory during the first of the weekend’s triple-header races at Donington Park today. His maiden win also marked the 50th different winner since the British Superbikes series began.

The dramatic race was initially led by Redding’s Be Wiser Ducati teammate and pole-sitter Josh Brookes, who unfortunately had a premature exit after hitting a kerb and crashing out at the end of Lap 6. 

Fellow Ducati rider Tommy Bridewell made several late fantastic passes into Roberts corner to move up to the front and to lead for the race majority, having some great battles with Yamaha’s Tarran Mackenzie in the process.

But it was Redding who was able to catch and eventually pass the leading group of Bridewell, Mackenzie and Xavi Forés to take the chequered flag and the race win.

Oxford Racing’s Bridewell just missed out on a podium but his rapid pace in the opening laps will see him line up in pole position for the next race tomorrow.

Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati #45) – Race 1, 1st
“It feels great. I voiced it before the weekend that if I’m going to do it, I need to do it here. Put a bit of pressure on myself really.

I just messed up the start big time again. From 2nd on the grid, guys either side of me just we and I thought, come on Scott, get your head down. I got back, Forés came past and I didn’t really expect that. I thought woah, what’s going on, how many people are behind, how many are going to go. I was making mistakes with the rear tyre and I couldn’t really settle into my pace for a long time. And then one moment kind of clicked, I smoothened out and I could catch the guys little bit, little bit. I saw them overtaking and I thought keep going, keep going, you’re helping me, you’re helping me. Got stuck in there and we had a good little battle actually for a couple of laps. We were going 3 abreast into the last chicane and I love that sort of race. Everything was very clean, and everyone respected each other and that was really good. I thought I need to try and get out of this because this isn’t going to end well with 3 of us on the last lap and I didn’t know that Xavi was even just on the back of us. Managed to get a little gap and maintain it. 

And the win just felt phenomenal for me out there. It’s been coming and waiting for a long time and now I’ve got it, it feels like a lot of weight off my shoulder and I feel much better now. I think we can get many more.”