In the all-new Fireblade’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship debut, Andrew Irwin and Glenn Irwin delivered a sensational one, two in the first of three races at the Donington National circuit.

As the lights went out, pole-sitter Jason O’Halloran slipped down the field, giving Buildbase Suzuki’s ‘youth’ Kyle Ryde the holeshot, immediately pressured Andrew Irwin and RICH Energy OMG Racing BMW’s Hector Barbera.

At the end of the second lap, a recovering Jason O’Halloran found himself in even more trouble when FS-3 Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan slid off at the Robert’s Chicane, forcing O’Halloran to take evasive action, dropping to 19th.

While the carnage was unfolding, Synetiq BMW’s Bradley Ray retired from his debut with the Neil’s BMW team, putting an early end to the first race of the year.

Back at the front, Josh Brookes bagan to find his pace aboard the VisionTrack PBM Ducati, while team-mate Christian Iddon also made a bright start on his Ducati V4 R.

Ryde slipped back to third as both Irwin brothers fired passed the Suzuki rider, with Andy leading Glenn, while Hector Barbera faced issues with his RICH Energy BMW – retiring from the race.

The drama didn’t stop there, Kyle Ryde sadly retired from the race with a radiator issue, after the GP2 champion suffered from a punctured radiator following Buchan’s off.

Meanwhile, at the front, there was a change of leadership as Glenn slipped passed his younger brother who quickly found himself behind the Aussie of Josh Brookes.

Brookes didn’t waste time to get passed Glenn Irwin and into the lead of the race, but immediately looked like he was suffering, unable to open an advantage.

With a suffering Ducati leading the 22-lap race, both Honda riders pounced on Brookes to regain control of the race, with two bold and brave moves at Starkey’s and Schwantz curve.

With Andy leading Glenn, it was a battle of the Irwin’s for the final lap of the race, Glenn tried all he could to pass his younger brother, but Andrew held on to take his second BSB victory, his first coming at Thruxton last year. Glenn Irwin finished second on his Honda debut, while 2019 runner-up put points on the board with a third place finish ahead of his team-mate Christian Iddon and Tommy Bridewell who completed the top five.

Luke Mossey managed to pip Tarran Mackenzie, who from his 15th place grid spot, finished seventh ahead of team-mate Jason O’Halloran – who to no fault of his own, did not give the 2020 R1 the debut it had received in WorldSBK and Moto America.

Ryan Vickers and Donington test-topper Lee Jackson completed the top ten ahead of the two Global Robots BMWs, Alex Olsen leading Peter Hickman.

Jack Kennedy lead a Santander Salt TAG Racing 13th and 14th with Dan Linfoot ahead of final points finisher, SYNETIQ BMW Motorrad’s Taylor Mackenzie.

Storm Stacey, in his BSB debut, finished 16th with Bjorn Estment, Josh Owens and Brian McCormack completing the field.

Full race results can be found here

Featured image: Honda Racing/Double Red Photographic