Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki's John Hopkins won the third race of the Showdown at Silverstone as the American fended off the challenges from the Swan Yamaha pairing of Michael Laverty and Tommy Hill to maintain his position at the top of the standings ahead of race two.

Even before the start of the race the HM Plant Honda team suffered drama as Ryuichi Kiyonari was moved off the grid as they frantically changed the rear tyre. He then would start from the back row of the grid; however the defending champion formed up in his fourth row position and therefore was giving a ride through penalty. The Title Fighter then had even more of an uphill task on his hands and he could only manage 28th position and in doing so scored no points for his championship defence.

Michael Laverty had taken the hole shot off the line on the Swan Yamaha from Hopkins, Josh Brookes and Tommy Hill. However Jon Kirkham jumped the start on the second of the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki and was therefore issued with a ride through penalty that put him out of contention for the top ten.

On the second lap Brookes had dropped back to fifth as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne moved to fourth behind the Swan Yamahas and Hopkins; however the Relentless Suzuki by TAS rider charged back into fourth a lap later to regain the position.

Peter Hickman then was another rider to suffer as he crashed his Tyco Honda out of sixth place as he continued to move up the order with a battle in the second pack of riders.

Hopkins then took the lead on the ninth lap at Stowe with a move down the inside which he had attempted several laps before and once he made it stick he defended hard to stay ahead of Laverty and Hill. Brookes was then closing in and he was shadowing Hill but he couldn't make a move stick on the closing laps.

Byrne was able to maintain fifth place ahead of an impressive finish from Graeme Gowland who powered the Mirror.co.uk BSB WFR Honda to sixth after passing Alex Lowes with three laps remaining. Michael Rutter, Martin Jessopp and Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten after they had fought hard throughout the race, with Dan Linfoot dropping outside the top ten in the closing stages.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, race one result:

John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki)
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.252s
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.587s
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.897s
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +1.473s
Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +23.767s
Alex Lowes (Motorpoint Yamaha) +24.506s
Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +26.045s
Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +26.921s
Tommy Bridewell (Motorpoint Yamaha) +27.207s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Silverstone race one:

John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 593
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 581
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 554
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 552
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 543
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 518

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