Scott does the treble at Donington
Fresh from his maiden Bennetts British Superbike Championship victory at Donington Park yesterday, Be Wiser Ducati’s Scott Redding swept to two more sensational race wins today to make it an unprecedented treble and in doing so, swept to the top of the championship standings following round three of the series.
The former MotoGP rider took two dominant wins on the factory-supported Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 R whilst team-mate Josh Brookes couldn’t manage a repeat of his Oulton Park double earlier in the month and after a race one crash, bounced back with fourth and fifth positions to maintain his top six position in the championship standings.
Unlike Saturday, where they started from first and second on the grid, today’s first race saw the duo line up on the third row whilst conditions were also different with cooler temperatures and frequent rain showers. Brookes made the better start with Scott further down the order but by half distance, they were both inside the top four.
26-year-old Scott continued his progress to the front and was in the lead when the race was stopped prematurely due to the rain meaning he claimed his second victory.
Both Scott and teammate Brookes were back on the front row for the third and final race of the weekend with Scott starting from second and Brookes third and it wasn’t long before they were both circulating at the front with 2015 champion Brookes leading the way. However, Scott was getting into his stride and took the lead before pulling away from the rest of the field to take his third win of the weekend. Brookes, meanwhile, made a mistake going into Robert’s Chicane on lap 15 and it dropped him back to fifth which he maintained to the flag.
The result means Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team are unbeaten in the last five BSB races going into round four at Brands Hatch in three weeks’ time.
Scott Redding:
“I made it difficult again for myself in the first race today and dropping back down the order wasn’t ideal but the bike’s been working so well all weekend and my old style’s started to come back, so I was able to work my way forward. When the rain started to fall, I knew it wouldn’t be long before the red flag came out, so I tried to be as clean as possible and get to the front which I managed to do. Getting my second win felt great so to go on to complete the hat-trick made it an incredible weekend. I never expected the three wins but in the last race I was determined not to make a mess of the start and getting the lead early was just what I wanted. The team have been mega and have given me a lot of confidence so I want to maintain this form now as best I can.”