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Scott Redding secured his first victory of the 2026 British Superbike Championship season in the opening race of the weekend at Donington Park.
The race came to a premature end at the beginning of the final lap as the rain began to fall at the iconic circuit, with red flags being waved mere seconds after Redding and Max Cook had crossed the line.
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Cook led for the majority of the race but was suddenly overtaken by Kyle Ryde, who started the race from pole, and Redding at the Melbourne Loop on lap 14 after becoming wary of rain drops. Cook fell back from the leading duo, but Redding’s pace remained strong and he went down the inside of Ryde at the Old Hairpin on lap 18.
With a hint of rain in the air, Ryde ran too deep at Melbourne Loop on the penultimate lap as the drops became heavier, allowing Cook through into second.
It’s Redding’s 19th BSB victory from just 56 races, whilst Cook celebrates his third Superbike podium and his first away from Thruxton. The AJN Steelstock bimota rider will celebrate his 100th BSB race start in Race Two tomorrow afternoon (May 17).
Redding, Cook and Ryde were well clear of the field, with Leon Haslam coming home in fourth after managing to keep a swarm of Yamaha riders and Storm Stacey behind him. He will, however, be frustrated by the 16.071s gap to the leader at the end of lap 18 – the lap to be completed by every rider before the red flags were waved.
Christian Iddon completed the top five on the Sencat Racing Yamaha, crossing the line ahead of Rory Skinner, Bradley Ray, Stacey and Danny Kent. Lee Jackson completed the top 10 as the leading Honda rider.
DAO Racing teammate Josh Brookes was 11th ahead of Glenn Irwin, who’s tough start to the season continues on the second of the Nitrous Coins Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati V4 Rs.
Joe Talbot, Luke Hedger and Jason O’Halloran claimed the final points on offer in the race. Rhys Irwin was the final rider to finish the race in 16th.
Ryan Vickers returned to the pits at the end of the second lap with a bike problem but did return to the circuit in order to try and set a lap-time for a positive grid position for Race Two. However, Vickers returned to the Honda garage at the end of lap eight.
Charlie Nesbitt ran on into the gravel at Redgate but rejoined the circuit before retiring in pit-lane a few laps later. Nesbitt is yet to score a point in 2026 onboard the TAG Honda.
Ilya Mikhalchik also retired from the race via the pit-lane at the end of lap seven, with Fraser Rogers doing the same at the end of the following lap.
Andrew Irwin and Eugene McManus both retired at the end of lap 15, whilst Peter Hickman failed to start the race.
