Scott Redding shows star quality in BSB Donington double

Scott Redding moved a significant step towards the 2019 British Superbike Championship title at Donington Park as another double saw him make it four-from-four in the Title Showdown.

Whittling the title battle down to just three possible winners, Redding is now 28 points clear of Be Wiser Ducati team-mate Josh Brookes and 65 points ahead of Tommy Bridewell with a maximum of 75 points up for grabs from three races at Brands Hatch.

It also mean the 2019 BSB Championship is guaranteed to be won by a Ducati rider. 

On both occasions forcing Brookes into an error that dropped him back, Redding was a comfortable winner in both races, bringing his 2019 BSB rookie season tally up to ten victories.

“I felt comfortable in race one, so I was able to manage everything quite well,” he said. “I felt settled leading the race but when a few spots of rain began to fall, I eased off a bit as I didn’t want to get caught out.

“When it became clear the rain had stopped, I was able to set the fastest lap of the race and pull away again, so it worked out well in the end. 

“The second race was tricky too as I had a problem with the gear-shifter which meant the bike was pushing me wide into the corners. Josh upped his pace too, which I knew he would, and the gap came down, so I was pleased to bring the bike home and get the double.”

Savvy safety car strategy humbles Josh Brookes

It's not easy to force Josh Brookes, one of the most experienced and unflappable racers in BSB, into a mistake but the pressure being applied by Redding’s sheer form is asking questions the Australia is struggling to answer.

In each race Brookes got the better of Redding off the line, but each time the Briton would calmly move onto the back of his fellow Ducati rider. In race one Brookes lost out to Redding and promptly lost his momentum to slip to a low of fifth, eventually fighting back to third.

In race two, Redding employed an unusual strategy during a caution period, allowing Brookes to pull away as he tracked the safety car, leaving a huge gap as he backed the rest of the field up. Redding then sped up to the back of Brookes over half of the lap, ensuring his tyres were warmer on the restart.

Whether the genuine disparity in the tyres or the fact Brookes was trying too hard to negate Redding’s cheeky tactics caused him to run wide at turn one, either was symptomatic of the ex-MotoGP man’s slick riding.

Regardless of the outcome of this year’s BSB Title Showdown, Redding is going to be a breath of fresh air in WorldSBK next season…