2018 Bennetts British Superbikes – Round 1 – Donington Park
What an opening round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship! Despite the weather trying its best to ruin the weekend, we got some incredible action across every class and it was great to see so many R&G-supported riders and teams walk away with silverware.
In the Superbike class, the R&G-protected JG Speedfit Kawasaki of Leon Haslam clinched pole position ahead of his team mate Luke Mossey, but in the opening race it was the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha of James Ellison claiming our first Superbike podium of the season. Haslam would go on to claim a rostrum finish in the second race of the weekend - however the BMC Air Filter-using Suzuki of Brad Ray proved unbeatable as the youngster doubled up on wins. 
Further trophies came at the hands of Ben Currie, who dominated both Supersport races to claim the double, whilst in the new Junior Supersport class, Team #109’s Eunan McGlinchey took a win and a second to be leading the Championship. Also joining our winners list were Levi Day and Mark Cheetham, who claimed the opening Ducati TriOptions Cup victories of the season. We’d also like to give R&G-sponsored Thomas Strudwick a big ‘congrats’, as he cruised to victory in the first British Talent Cup race!
R&G Rookies Trophy
The R&G Rookies’ Trophy is back for another year and for 2018 the top two rookies in each class at the end of the season will be put forward to a special panel of judges who will choose the top three overall, who’ll then receive a hos
t of prizes from R&G, Pirelli and LS2 crash helmets.
Donington saw some fantastic rides from the 2018 rookies, most notably from Andy Reid who claimed victory in the third Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race to be named our R&G Rookie of the Meeting.
After an action-packed weekend, we’ve pulled the top two rookies’ from the Championship standings as listed below. In the Superbike class, Gino Rea managed to claim points on his maiden outing, making him the only rookie in the class to do so!
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British Superbikes
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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18th
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Gino Rea
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1
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N/A
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N/A
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N/A
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British Supersport
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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3rd
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Tom Oliver
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29
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8th
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Tim Neave
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13
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Superstock 1000
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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3rd
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Joe Collier
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31
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5th
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Andy Reid
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25
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Superstock 600
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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8th
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Luke Hopkins
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8
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10th
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Caolan Irwin
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6
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British Junior Supersport
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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1st
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Eunan McGlinchey
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45
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2nd
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Kade Verway
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41
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Ducati TriOptions Cup
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Championship position
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Rider
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Points
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7th
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Sam Coventry
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19
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8th
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Joe Morphett
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18
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