For the first time in two years, Ridersmotorcycles.com rider Michael Rutter crossed the finish line in first place, after the first race at Knockhill had to be restarted twice due to heavy winds and torrential rains.
"That was terrifying! I really wanted that win and I took it easy to start with and just followed Kiyo and Josh to see how things would go. I thought I had a good chance and it was a lottery out there but it definitely paid off," said Rutter. "This is a great result for the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati team and they worked hard for it. I was not going to give anything away on the brakes and there were a few times I thought I was going to lose it, but here I am and on the top step so it's been a good day so far!"
Brookes took the hole shot once the race was restarted, and held onto his lead for five laps. Ryuichi Kiyonari eventually took the lead, only to be passed up by Rutter a few laps later.
Kiyonari would finish .577 seconds behind Rutter, and Brookes would come in another 6 seconds back. Michael Laverty took fourth place after fighting his way back from a fifth row start.
Season leader Tommy Hill only managed an 8th place finish.
British Superbike - Knockhill - Race 1 Results
- Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati)
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.577s
- Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +6.187s
- Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +9.363s
- Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +13.295s
- John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +18.708s
- Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +21.149s
- Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +23.233s
- Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +23.233s
- Chris Walker (CW Racing Suzuki) +28.717s
