A warm welcome to the first JT & Hiflo race report of the 2018 season.

The British Superbike championship kicked off at Donington Park over the Easter weekend amid less than ideal weather conditions. Once again, JT & Hiflo have great pleasure in supporting race teams and riders across the championships including Bradley Ray and Richard Cooper riding for Buildbase Suzuki, James Ellison and Shaun Winfield riding for Anvil Hire Tag Racing Yamaha and Jake Dixon riding for RAF regular and Reserves Kawasaki.

A disrupted schedule meant the first race ran on Sunday in dry but cold conditions. Leon Haslam lead from the line as reigning champion Shane Byrne started badly and dropped down the field. James Ellison took the lead with Bradley Ray passing Haslam for second position on lap 3. Ray moved to the front on lap 6 and held the first position to the line despite strong competition from a second place Byrne and Ellison who finished 3rd. Jake Dixon suffered with clutch problems but still managed to secure an 11th place finish, Bradley’s team mate Richard Cooper brought it home in 16th and Tag Racing’s Shaun Winfield fought a tough race to finish 26th.

A drying track for Monday morning’s race two saw most riders running full slick tyres. 20 year old Bradley Ray led the race from start to finish and gave the Buildbase team the perfect start to the 2018 season by “doing the double.” Tag racing’s riders had a tough second race with Ellison crashing out on a damp section of track and Winfield forced to retire due to lack of grip from his front intermediate tyre. Jake Dixon finished in 12th on the RAF machine and Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper finished 13th.

In the Superstock 1000cc class Buildbase Suzuki’s Billy McConnell left Donington Park with a 1st and 5th place and Leon Jeacock riding for Geo E Davies & Smirk racing scored 13th and 25th place finishes.

JT & Hiflo regulars Kurt and Matt Wigley, again contesting the 600cc Supersport championship, scored 18th and 15th place finishes respectively. Meanwhile new addition to the JT & Hiflo family Izaak Aldred attained 13th and 18th positions using Hiflofiltro HF204RC filters on his Yamaha YZF-R3 in the new Junior Supersport class.