Crutchlow (35) claimed a first and a second place at Thruxton (Pic: Double Red)

Cal Crutchlow has claimed his first ever victory in the British Superbike Championships with a win in the second race of the opening round at Thruxton.

On his debut for the Louth-based HM Plant Honda team, Crutchlow took the chequered flag ahead of Shane Byrne, in a reverse of the race one result.

"I knew we had it in us to take the win, but I didn't think it would come this early," said Crutchlow.

He and Byrne jointly lead the standings ahead of Michael Rutter in third.

Leon Haslam on the second of the HM Plant Honda fared less well than his team-mate, taking fourth in race one but retiring from an incident-packed second race which was shortened following a spectacular crash involving former Honda racer Karl Harris, who was knocked from his Yamaha by the cartwheeling Suzuki of Tom Sykes.

The HM Plant squad also took victory in the Supersport class through Steve Brogan, while Ruskington's Rob Frost, riding a Triumph, claimed 11th on his return to the series.

Lincoln's Lee Jackson also claimed an 11th placed finish in the Superstock race, which saw Alford's Peter Hickman take an impressive fifth place on a hastily prepared Yamaha.

"The first time the bike actually ran was Friday morning," said Hickman. "A fifth place finish to our very first race is a credit to all the hard work put in."

Bruce Wilson, from Gypsey Bridge, was 25th in Junior Superstock, while a blown engine ended Ben Wilson's R1 Cup race four laps from the end.