Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson clinched his sixth win of the season in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport championship at Knockhill this afternoon, surviving all attacks from Relentless Suzuki's Alastair Seeley.
After being delayed twice due to the weather the race, that was shortened to 20 laps, finally got underway. It was an immediate disaster for pole position rider and yesterday's race winner Sam Warren of Bike Interceptor Yamaha as he undeservedly highsided on the first of two warm up laps. Huge disappointment for him and his team, but also a loss for spectators as Warren constantly proves he is one of the highlights of the series this year.
It was Seeley who led into the first corner as Wilson leaped through to second place from 7th on the grid. A couple of corners later it was back to normal for Wilson as he took the lead but instantly Seeley fought back. After a couple of place exchanges Wilson held the lead for the next several laps with Seeley hot on his wheels.
Wilson and Seeley pulled away at the front, Christian Iddon of Oxford TAG Triumph was in third ahead of East Coast Racing's Lee Johnston and Bournemouth Kawasaki's Luke Stapleford. Jesse Trayler also of Gearlink Kawasaki was the next attacker on the move and jointly with Stapleford they gave some of the best battles of the race. After the positions settled down for a while they drew closer to Johnston in fourth.
Mid way through the race Stapleford put extreme pressure on Johnston who clearly wasn't going to give up without a fight as they rode side by side, exchanged positions but as Johnston went slightly wide allowing not only Stapleford to stay ahead but Trayler to temporarily slip through for a lap or two only.
On lap 13 the battle began again between Johnston and Trayler with the trailing guys almost getting caught up in the battle until Paul Young the second Oxford TAG Triumph rider spoiled the party to get ahead of Johnston messing up his plan of attack. This was an astonishing result as Young had came from 20th on the grid to be running in fifth which he kept across the line. This made up for yesterday's disappointment where he was forced to retire from race one due to a misted up visor.
Back at the front Seeley had gradually pulled Wilson in closer lap by lap as they were now over 8 seconds ahead of the others. With only four laps to go they then hit several back markers where it started to get extrememly messy. On lap 18 Wilson got slightly held up by a back marker on lap 18 where Seeley took advantage by riding around the both of them, but Wilson didn't let that phase him to regain the lead.
Both riders rode the wheels off the bike and just as Wilson looked like the win was in the bag at the last corner, he went slightly wide looking to almost give it away to Seeley, but yet again Wilson became victorious and regained five points in race two back against the four he lost yesterday in race one. Iddon picked up his first podium of the season.
Championship points:
Ben Wilson 208
Alastair Seeley 149
Jack Kennedy 99
Billy McConnell 97
Paul Young 97
