BSB: Haslam beats Dixon to second race win

Leon Haslam returned to the top step in the second Bennetts British Superbike race at Knockhill after a massive moment for Jake Dixon halted his charge for the Scottish double.

Dixon took the holeshot from the front row of the grid ahead of Suzuki’s Bradley Ray and polesitter Danny Buchan.

The RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki rider was keen to lead from the off, but Ray latched on to the rear of Dixon’s ZX-10RR with the duo able to pull a slight gap on Buchan and Haslam behind.

It was Haslam on a charge as the race went on, scrapping with Buchan before settling into third and setting about chasing down the leading pair.

Haslam slipped past Ray and into second at Clark at the mid-way point with Buchan following him through. Ray retired to the pits a lap later with the team later confirming he’d had a stone through the radiator.

With Haslam on the charge, Dixon was far from safe at the front and coming under pressure from the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider, he made a mistake at Clark and lost the rear. Miraculously saving the giant high-side, Haslam was able to pull a bit of a buffer as he slipped past and despite two strong final laps from Dixon, it wasn’t enough to clinch the double victory.

Buchan took a comfortable third ahead of the Be Wiser Ducati of Glenn Irwin while Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty completed the top six for Tyco BMW.

Richard Cooper crossed the line seventh ahead of rookie Andrew Irwin with James Ellison and Peter Hickman rounding out the top ten.

Josh Brookes was another retirement, pulling over with what appeared to be an engine issue.

Haslam’s victory sees him extend his series lead to 74 points ahead of Jake Dixon and Bradley Ray. Glenn Irwin sits fourth ahead of absent team-mate Shane Byrne while Buchan’s double rostrum sees the Essex lad push Josh Brookes out of the top six.