Procon Maxima BMW’s Glenn Allerton remains focused on the Australian Superbike Championship despite a dramatic first race in Tasmania today.

Allerton was involved in a controversial clash as Suzuki’s Robbie Bugden nosed his Team Mack Trucks Suzuki up the inside before contact was made as both riders wrestled for track space.

The airfence arrested both bikes, while the riders were quick to their feet. The frustration was evident for Allerton, who was able to re-mount his BMW for an eventual finish of seventh.

Allerton had his season’s share of bad luck bundled into one day, with a mechanical problem in qualifying forcing him to his second bike for the race.

A lack of feel for the clutch saw him lose ground at the start, and the clash with Bugden while leading capped off a frustrating day for the Procon Maxima BMW pilot.

“I probably wasn’t as forceful with the lapped rider as I should have been through the essess and it allowed Robbie to get a good run on me,” said Allerton.

“I’d almost made the apex when the contact happened, and am probably lucky that the bike started straight away.”

Allerton’s series lead now sits at 56 points, potentially wrapping up the series tomorrow afternoon in race two.