JAMES Ellison has won the opening race of the 2015 British Superbike Championship at Donington Park ahead of reigning Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes.

Byrne and pole position sitter Ryuichi Kiyonari began their battle on the first lap, but Ellison carved his way into the lead to lead the field into Craner Curves. Defending Champion, Byrne, continued to battle his way to the front and took the lead before the exit of the Old Hairpin.

The Nissan GT-R Safety Car was deployed after Rhalf Lo Turco crashed out at Melbourne, and with everyone bunched up once again, Ellison took the lead into Hollywood as Byrne attempted everything to claim the opening win. However, the JG Speedfit Kawasaki of Ellison took the lead as Byrne couldn’t find a way past.

The battle for third heated up as Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes closed in on third-place Dan Linfoot during the final few laps. The pair dived around each other on the final lap, but it was the Australian who finished on the last step of the podium.

Linfoot had to settle for fourth with Peter Hickman finishing in fifth for the RAF Reserves BMW team.

Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan crashed out whilst Tommy Bridewell finished sixth overall for the Tyco BMW team after battling it out with Christian Iddon.

Race one results:

1. James Ellison GBR JG Speedfit Kawasaki
2. Shane Byrne GBR PBM Kawasaki +0.131
3. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee Yamaha +9.112
4. Dan Linfoot GBR Honda Racing +9.170
5. Peter Hickman GBR RAF Reserves BMW +11.276
6. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco BMW  +16.139
7. Christian Iddon GBR Bennetts Suzuki +17.281
8. Chris Walker GBR Be Wiser Kawasaki +22.776
9. Michael Laverty GBR Tyco BMW +22.915
10. Richard Cooper GBR Anvil Hire TAG Racing Kawasaki +23.456
11. Stuart Easton GBR PBM Kawasaki +25.793 
12. Robbie Harms DEN MotoDex BMW +26.867 
13. Lee Jackson GBR Buildbase BMW +27.418
14. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Buildbase BMW +28.007
15. Luke Mossey GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki +28.299
16. Broc Parkes AUS Milwaukee Yamaha +28.299
17. Filip Backlund GBR Anvil Hire TAG Racing Kawasaki +28.405
18. Josh Waters AUS Bennetts Suzuki +29.317
19. Jason O’Halloran AUS Honda Racing +29.449 
20. Ian Hutchinson GBR PBM Kawasaki +40.273
21. Shaun Winfield GBR Anvil Hire TAG Racing Kawasaki +44.426 
22. Danny Johnson GBR Morello Racing Kawasaki +44.580 
23. Martin Jessopp GBR RidersMotorcycles BMW+47.309
24. David Johnson AUS MotoDex BMW +1:14.479

DNF. Victor Cox GBR Morello Racing Kawasaki
DNF. James Westmoreland GBR JG Speedfit Kawasaki
DNF. Jack Kennedy IRE Team WD-40 Kawasaki
DNF. Jakub Smrz CZE Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati
DNF. Taylor Mackenzie GBR Team WD-40 Kawasaki
DNF. Danny Buchan GBR Be Wiser Kawasaki
DNF. Aaron Zanotti GBR A-Plant Yamaha
DNF. Billy McConnell AUS Smiths Racing BMW
DNF. Howie Mainwaring GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki
DNF. Jenny Tinmouth GBR Honda Racing
DNF. Rhalf Lo Turco BRA SBK City Racing Kawasaki