Scott Redding dominates Assen race one as Bridewell DNFs

Scott Redding got his 2019 BSB Title Showdown off to a perfect start at Assen with a storming run to victory in race one around the iconic Dutch circuit, a result that moves him ahead in the title fight.

The Be Wiser PBM Ducati rider began as hot favourite after a commanding effort in qualifying and didn’t put a foot wrong when it mattered as he charged clear of team-mate Josh Brookes and fellow Panigale V4R rider Tommy Bridewell.

However, Bridewell’s hopes of taking the challenge to the factory pair came to an abrupt conclusion on lap eight when he fell at De Bult in a rare mistake by the Oxford Racing rider.

Out front Redding sprinted clear to win by almost five seconds, taking the BSB lead in the process, albeit only by two points as Brookes followed him up in a distant second place.

Jason O’Halloran scored a long-awaited first podium since joining McAMS Yamaha after denying Luke Stapleford the same privilege in a battle that went down to the line. Regardless, fourth place marks the Buildbase Suzuki rider’s best BSB finish yet.

Honda’s Xavi Fores demonstrated his experience of the Assen circuit with a charge to fifth place, ahead of a trio of Showdown contenders in Danny Buchan, Tarran Mackenzie – up from 15th on the grid – and Peter Hickman.

Bradley Ray made it two factory Suzukis inside the top ten ahead of Hector Barbera, Andrew Irwin and Luke Mossey, while Richard Cooper marked his BSB return with a run to 13th. James Ellison – debuting for OMG Suzuki – and Ben Curries notched up the final points.

Elsewhere, Tyco BMW failed to get either of its bikes to the finish, while Ryan Vickers crashed on lap two having qualified a season’s best seventh.