Gregorio Lavilla took a stylish winning double in the opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on the Brands Hatch circuit where six months earlier a catalogue of misfortune had seen him lose the chance of retaining the title.

The Airwaves Ducati rider was given a stern test by the new breed of British racers, with both Leon Camier and Jonathan Rea, packing the placings as they underlined their potential as title candidates.

Rea, the 20 year old HM Plant Honda rider, had recorded the fastest ever two wheeled lap of the Kent grand prix circuit to secure pole start but he did not not make good use of that as Camier, also 20 years old, charged into the lead in the opener, ahead of Chris Walker, Leon Haslam and Lavilla.

“I didn't expect to be running out front and thought to myself what the hell is going on,” said Camier as he reflected on his Superbike debut with the Bike Animal Honda team. “I made a few little mistakes and that allowed Gregorio to come through.”

Lavilla was delighted. “I had made a bad start but once I had a rhythm I was able to catch Leon, but he was riding well and I had to work hard and once ahead just had to keep going. What happened here last year was not my fault, it was out of my control - I have always said when the bike all works we are ready to fight.”

Camier took second, ahead of Rea, Shane Byrne, Walker, Haslam, Tom Sykes and the reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Lavilla charged away from the start of the second race, showing his real class as he opened up a ten seconds advantage over Camier with Kiyonari running third ahead of Rea, Byrne, Haslam and Walker.

But, Malcolm Ashley, running last, high-sided at Druids, and the Safety Car was deployed while marshals moved the stricken rider and his machine from the centre of the track - that effectively bunched the pack, but Lavilla was equal to the challenge.

He re-asserted himself to take the victory, finish 1.3 seconds clear of Rea, Camier, Haslam, Sykes and Karl Harris, with Michael Rutter seventh but there were more struggles for Kiyonari who came in eleventh.

James Buckingham, riding for the first time since sustaining serious leg injuries in a crash at Oulton Park midway through last season, won both British Superbike Cup races.

Michael Laverty won the opening round of the Maxxis British Supersport Championship, and that after he had high-sided off his Relentless Suzuki, with Dennis Hobbs tumbling in the incident, and causing the race to be stopped.

The Toomebridge rider was able to make the re-start on his spare machine and overcame the early challenge of Tom Grant on the Virgin Media Yamaha to be comfortably ahead when the race was again stopped, this time because of a heavy crash by Billy McConnell.

Ashley Beech won the British 125GP Championship opener, a couple of seconds up on Kev Coghlan and Anthony Rogers.

Glen Richards, the pole starter, fought back to overhaul Hudson Kennaugh and win the opening round of the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship. Victory in the Superstock Cup went to James Hurrell.

Ulsterman BJ Toal won the Virgin Media Cup opener, running some five seconds up on Dean Hipwell and Midge Smart.

ends