‘Long time coming’ as Lee Jackson toasts first BSB success in 135th race

Lee Jackson has paid tribute to the FS-3 Racing squad for retaining faith in him as he finally broke his British Superbike Championship (BSB) victory duck with a fighting performance in the final race of the weekend at Oulton Park.

One of the more experienced riders on the BSB grid, Jackson made his series debut back in 2014 but while he would skip between that and the Superstock class over the ensuing eight years, he would still notch up 135 races in BSB without tasting the winners’ champagne.

However, that wait came to an end at Oulton Park after Jackson clawed back ground on leader Bradley Ray before prevailing in a tussle with Tommy Bridewell to cross the line in front.

As well as marking his first win in BSB, it is FS-3 Racing and Kawasaki’s first victory in BSB since Danny Buchan’s success at Cadwell Park.

“It’s been a long time coming. A few years ago I went down a class to rejuvenate my career and FS-3 have had full faith in me this whole time. The team, my family and everyone around me has had full faith. I’m my own worst critic, but now it’s finally come, I’m almost speechless.

"To be fair to Tommy he pulled me along there, he gave me that fight and I knew as soon as I got behind him I had to just go, keep my head down and not do anything stupid.”

On a memorable day for two of BSB’s longest serving riders, Ray - on the OMG Yamaha - scored his first wins since 2018 with victory in Races 1 and 2, helping him leapfrog Glenn Irwin at the top of the standings, while both Jackson and team-mate Rory Skinner holds comfortable Title Showdown berths after two rounds.