Thruxton hosted round seven of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship and saw Langwathby-based Be Wiser Ducati’s riders Josh Brookes and Scott Redding reinforce their championship credentials with a superb performance at Britain’s fastest track.

Aboard his factory-supported Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4R, Australian Brookes added to his victories at Oulton Park and Brands Hatch earlier this season to claim win number five in a fragmented second race to add to his third place in the opening race to move to within 20 points of team-mate and series leader Redding.

Redding, meanwhile, had set the pace in qualifying and started race one from pole position from where he battled hard on his debut at the track.

But despite an audacious last corner attempt to pass eventual race winner Andrew Irwin, the former GP ace had to settle for second spot with Brookes just behind.

Race two saw the first attempt red-flagged due to a passing shower with Brookes and Redding well placed and then the restart was stopped due to an oil-spillage with 2015 BSB champion Brookes leading.

Third time lucky saw the race reduced to eight laps and saw Brookes lead from start to finish as, behind him, Redding was involved in a titanic scrap for the podium.

However, late in the race, the Gloucestershire ace ran wide at the chicane and the resulting 15-second time penalty relegated him outside the points, despite crossing the line in second.

Speaking after the races at the weekend, Be Wiser Ducati team co-ordinator Johnny Mowatt said: “We’ve had two, really exciting races and the first race was probably the best of the season so far.

"Both riders boxed well in the early laps and put themselves in the right position going into the final five laps with Josh knowing what to expect here at Thruxton in terms of tyre performance at the end.

"It was a new experience for Scott but he’s clever enough to know what to do and, although we finished second and third, the whole team were pleased for Andrew with him being a former PBM team member.

"Josh’s side of the garage have been doing a bit of head-scratching recently but he’s a Sunday man rather than a qualifier and he’d led each of the second race starts, so it would have been harsh if he hadn’t have won.

"A few of the riders tripped themselves up at the beginning and he took full advantage to clear off for the win.

"For Scott, it was a bit different, but rules are rules and he’ll take the penalty on the chin and we’re still in first and second overall, so it’s been a good weekend overall."