He was joined on the podium once again by Jonathan Rea on the HM Plant Honda and stepping on the podium for his first time in his rookie season was Cal Crutchlow on the Rizla Suzuki.
When the lights went out it was the HM Plant Hondas that got away first with Rea leading from the new Bennetts British Superbike Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, resplendent in a shiny gold crash helmet to celebrate his recently claimed title.
The green Stobart Honda of Shane Byrne was running close behind in third place with Lavilla and Tom Sykes joining in the fun. Crutchlow wasn't hanging about and on lap three he grabbed fifth place from Sykes at Druids. Lavilla was also on the move taking Byrne for third place on lap five.
The race took a dramatic turn one lap later when James Buckingham's Quay Garage Honda blew on the run into Paddock Hill. He machine laid down oil causing him to crash and leaving a slick on track. Initially the safety car came out but Kenny Gilbertson went down on the oil and the race was red flagged.
Once the oil was cleared up a full restart was required with the grid set by the race positions when the red flag came out. This put Rea on pole and Kiyo next to him, so when the lights went out for a second time it was Rea and Kiyo who got away first.
Byrne was running in third place with Crutchlow in fourth place. On lap seven of the restart Lavilla took Crutchlow for fourth place while Byrne was working his way by Kiyo to take second.
With the lead in sight Byrne made a move on Rea through Clearways but Rea held his line and regained the lead but with the infighting at the front it allowed Lavilla to move up to second place.
All the shuffling around dropped Kiyo back to fifth place and allowed Lavilla to nip into the lead. It was now Lavilla, from Rea, then Byrne, Crutchlow and Kiyo. Byrne ran out of luck at Paddock Hill on lap thirteen when he lost the rear and slid off at high speed into the gravel. He was able to walk away from the spill.
