This time the thirty laps were completed, with Glenn Irwin the third different winner of the weekend as race three brought the first British Superbike race weekend to a close at Silverstone.

The weather may have cooled but the racing didn’t - and Irwin did not have instant impact. Early leader Josh Brookes took over at the front almost immediately while the Ducati rider again went the wrong way from the start.

A second row start meant there was less places to make up, and the close competitive racing at the front meant the #2 bike could pick his way forward from sixth as the lead changed hands.

Hitting the front after taking over from Danny Kent on lap eighteen, Irwin tried to pull out a gap on the PBM bike, but behind Brookes and Bridewell could see his plan and moved in behind, removing the defecit.

 
British Superbike Silverstone- Race results (3)
PosRiderNatTeamTime
1Glenn IrwinGBRBeerMonster Ducati26m 55.706s
2Josh BrookesAUSFHO Racing BMW Motorrad+0.120s
3Tommy BridewellGBRBeerMonster Ducati+0.412s
4Jason O'HalloranAUSMcAMS Yamaha+1.179s
5Danny KentGBRLovell Kent Racing Honda+1.297s
6Leon HaslamGBRRokit BMW Motorrad Team+2.037s
7Kyle RydeGBRLami OMG Racing Yamaha+3.443s
8Jack KennedyIRLMar-Train Racing Yamaha+3.713s
9Lee JacksonGBRCheshire Mouldings Kawasaki+4.046s
10Ryan VickersGBRLami OMG Racing Yamaha+4.137s
11Christian IddonGBROxford Products Ducati+5.895s
12Peter HickmanGBRFHO Racing BMW Motorrad+6.106s
13Tim NeaveGBRMcAMS Yamaha+12.202s
14Tom NeaveGBRHonda Racing UK+15.032s
15Hector BarberaESPTAG Racing Honda+16.350s
16Josh OwensGBRCrendon Honda by Hawk Racing`+16.541s
17Charlie NesbittGBRMastermac Honda by Hawk Racing+17.944s
18Bradley PerieGBRLee Hardy Racing Kawasaki+17.976s
19Dean HarrisonGBRDAO Racing Kawasaki+21.947s
20Max CookGBRCheshire Mouldings Kawasaki+24.614s
21Storm StaceyGBRStarline Racing Kawasaki+26.577s
22Davey ToddGBRMilenco by Padgetts Motocycles Honda+29.734s
23Andrew IrwinGBRHonda Racing UK3 laps
24Luke MosseyGBRTactix by Lloyd & Jones BMW21 laps
25Jack ScottGBRRapid CDH Racing KawasakiDNS
26Liam DelvesGBRRapid CDH Racing KawasakiDNS
27Danny BuchanGBRSynetiq BMW MotorradDNS
28Luke HopkinsGBRNP Motorcycles KawasakiDNS
  
  

 

 
  
  

Irwin held on to lead over the line - the third different rider and manufacturer to take the top spot at Silverstone as he claimed a tenth career BSB win.

Brookes continued his renaissance at FHO BMW Motorrad, his new home seemingly suiting the Australian former champion as he secured his 150th podium appearance, just 0.120s away from another victory after staging a fightback.

Bridewell had begun the race with work to do - a ride through the pack was needed from eighth on the grid. Picking off his rivals looked effortless as he soon arrived in the frantic lead group for some more solid points - a rostrum visit coming in every race this weekend.

Jason O’Halloran started from pole. Having been there or there abouts his results have been consistent but did not seem able to find that extra needed for the win. Race three was no different as he faded back to fourth, just over a second behind the leader for McAMS Yamaha.

 

A return to form for Danny Kent

 

To hold on for the win was a big ask, but Danny Kent lead a large portion of the middle of the race after forming his own Lovell Kent racing team for the season, with Honda machinery underneath him.

Even in the closing stages a podium looked possible but it was not to be, the number 52 did however look rejuvenated and up for the fight on his way to fifth on his new bike after a barren time on the Buildbase Suzuki, with the manufacturer leaving the championship.

Leon Haslam put his issues earlier in the day with the bike to bed. With no last minute preparation needed for race three, the Rokit BMW Motorrad has also run his own team to compete in 2023, with race three looking more relaxed he was sixth again, marking a solid first round in the circumstances.

Kyle Ryde was in a similar situation to Bridewell - given his wide riding style around the National circuit and his struggle to stay ahead from a good grid position, starting fifth was always going to make the race a difficult one.

Initially making up places along with the Ducati, the #77 saw his run stagnate, finishing seventh for LAMI OMG Yamaha.

Jack Kennedy once again looked comfortable at the front. His Mar-Train bike benefits from support from McAMS, while keeping his team around him entering BSB has offered stability which lead to confidence, running as high as fourth. Always learning, the Irish rider finished eighth.

Lee Jackson completed another improved run on the Kawasaki and was again the manufacturers top finisher as he tried new parts and progressed the machine all weekend. From sixth on the grid the #14 was able to hold his own for much of the race on the way to an improved ninth at the chequered flag.

Ryan Vickers has a suspected broken scaphoid but rode on to bring home a top ten finish on the second Lami OMG Yamaha entry.

 

Points relief for Iddon and Hickman.

 

Both Christian Iddon and Peter Hickman have endured a tough opening to their BSB campaigns.

Iddon had mechanical issues in race one and was taken out in race two - despite looking to have top ten pace there had been no opportunity to put that on show.

Starting eleventh did not give the best chance of a turnaround, but by the end of the race Iddon was in the same positon for Oxford Products Ducati, putting some points into his account.

Peter Hickman was eleventh in race one but nine seconds off the leaders. His weekend rapidly went downhill after crashing in morning warm-up with bike gremlins not cleared by race two - he pulled into the pits as his bike began to slow.

That left the FHO Racing rider last on the grid, while his teammate Brookes has collected a rostrum finish in every race.

An amazing fight through the riders ahead saw the #60 pick up a huge twelve places in the race to finish twelfth in race three and despite the needed comeback he finished just over six seconds off race winner Irwin.

Official British Superbike Silverstone Records:

Old BSB Lap Record - Silverstone: Bradley Ray (Yamaha) 53.102s (2022)

New BSB lap record - Kyle Ryde (Yamaha) 52.953s (2023 - FP3)

2022 at Silversone:

Pole: Glenn Irwin (2nd Kyle Ryde, 3rd Bradley Ray)

Race One:

1:Glenn Iwrin

2:Kyle Ryde

3:Bradley Ray

Race Two:

1:Glenn Irwin

2:Kyle Ryde

3: Rory Skinner

Race Three:

1: Glenn Irwin

2: Bradley Ray

3: Andrew Irwin

Tim Neave (McAMS Yamaha) got the better of his more experienced brother Tom (Honda Racing UK) in 13th and 14th respectively.

The second Honda, with Hector Barbera aboard, passed and just kept back Josh Owens (Crendon Honda by Hawk racing) for the final point.

Andrew Irwin and Luke Mossey both failed to see the finish line.

Luke Hopkins remained absent following his injuries picked up earlier in the weekend. Danny Buchan was also unavailable as he went for checks on suspected broken bones in his foot following his race two exit, which brought out the red flag.

Championship Standings

After round one it is Josh Brookes leading the way on 48 points, just two ahead of Tommy Bridewell after a trio of hard fought races. His win sees Glenn Irwin in close company with a total of 43.

Kyle Ryde was 39 points to his credit following his sprint race win despite a tough race three. Jason O’Halloran’s consistent points hauls sees him fifth overall on 35.