Christian Smith won the opening ABK Beer 0% BMW Motorrad F 900 R Cup heat at Circuito de Navarro after rival Mason Johnson crossed the line first – and then was hit with a penalty.

From pole, Johnson hit the front and led for the first few laps with Smith behind. Smith finally made a move to take the lead on the fourth lap, but Johnson was keen to take it back and made the move at the end of lap seven to lead into the final lap.

Crossing the line first, Johnson’s celebrations didn’t last long as race chiefs ruled he had exceeded track limits and dropped him a place, handing Smith the first win of the year.

Robert Varey took third ahead of Ellison in fourth as James Kelly rounded out the top five.

ABK Beer 0% BMW Motorrad F 900 R Cup, Heat One result:
1.    Christian Smith (SCH Motoprep/Bathams Racing) 
2.    Mason Johnson (Johnson Racing) 
3.    Robert Varey (Stanford Fastline) +0.816s
4.    James Ellison (Back on Track powered by HSO) +6.557s
5.    James Kelly (Team Art of Racing) +16.362s