Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson stormed to his maiden Motorpoint British Supersport victory of the season this afternoon at Knockhill, opening out a five second advantage before the red flag stopped the race due to rain.
Drama ensued before the race had even begun, with reigning champion, Glen Richards, crashing out on the warm-up lap and collecting Samsung Honda's Jason O'Halloran as a result. Smiths Triumph's Richards picked up arm and shoulder injuries in the crash, which puts him in serious doubt for tomorrow's feature race.
Seton Yamaha's Graeme Gowland took the holeshot once the lights went out but only held on to the lead for three laps. The safety car was brought out after cup leader Jake Dixon crashed out and once the safety car pulled in, Wilson took the lead and didn't look back.
The battle for the final podium spots raged on behind with Billy McConnell passing Gowland on the brakes into the final corner of the Hairpin. McConnell couldn't hold on for long, however, with championship leader Alastair Seeley fighting his way through, after a poor start, to take second at half race distance.
Mar-Train Yamaha's Stuart Easton battled his way through from the fifth row of the grid to take third place and the final podium spot, but Seeley extended his championship advantage to six points over the wee Scotsman.
Gowland finished fourth, his best result of the year, followed by Glenn Irwin and Richard Cooper who took advantage of McConnell running wide at the hairpin on the last lap; the pole setter having to settle for seventh.
Profile Triumph's Luke Stapleford beat his teammate Luke Mossey to eighth, with local lad David Paton rounding out the top ten. Appleyard Macadam Yamaha's Bjorn Estment stormed to his first cup victory of the year, closing the gap to cup leader Jake Dixon.
