BSB Silverstone Race 1 Results | Irwin wins, shock O’Halloran, Mackenzie crash

Glenn Irwin has taken his first win of the 2021 British Superbike Championship season after a shocking crash involving McAMS Yamaha team-mates Jason O’Halloran and Tarran Mackenzie wiped them out of the lead.

In a bizarre twist to what looked like being another McAMS Yamaha 1-2 between the two title favourites came to a dramatic conclusion when Mackenzie, having just slipped up the inside of O’Halloran at Brooklands, high-sided right into the path of his team-mate.

Causing an dramatic collision as O’Halloran hit the sliding Yamaha R1 ahead and vaulted the handlebars, both were able to get back up, albeit gingerly.

Coming with just over two laps remaining, it was a reminiscent of two years ago when Mackenzie and O’Halloran collided at the final corner. However, while Mackenzie was at fault for that - and duly penalised as such - this time it was an innocent accident, albeit with a damaging outcome.

Their exit duly changed the make-up of the race, with Irwin taking advantage to power home for his and Honda’s first win of the year, giving him the boost he needed to all-but-secure his Title Showdown place.

Christian Iddon came through to finish in second position for VisionTrack Ducati, while Tommy Bridewell produced a fine ride to third having had his Ducati completely rebuilt after a big crash in qualifying.

Josh Brookes and Bradley Ray gave their Title Showdown hopes a big boost with a run to fourth, helped further by two of the riders in the three vacant spots before the race - Danny Buchan and Lee Jackson - failing to finish.

Gino Rea was sixth, having looked on course for a possible podium with Suzuki, before slipping back though he starts on pole for Race 2, while Rory Skinner, Kyle Ryde, Xavi Fores and Luke Stapleford completed the top ten.

In the standings, the fight for the Title Showdown now only has three positions to decide after Peter Hickman booked his place, albeit after crashing out early when he clattered Jason O’Halloran at Maggotts.

Irwin’s win puts him in a good position to seal the sixth spot, but only 20 points cover Buchan, Ray - who moves eighth with his top five results - Brookes and Jackson just outside.

2021 British Superbike Championship (BSB) Race 1 RESULTS | Silverstone