Gearlink Kawasaki's Luke Hedger took his first Pirelli National Superstock 600 victory of the year this afternoon at Brands Hatch, closing the gap on championship leader Jordan Simpkin in doing so.
Pole setter Callan Cooper took the holeshot and the young Manxman held the lead for the majority of the race before the reigning Motostar champion, Hedger, shot through on the brakes into Paddock Hill Bend. Hedger, who was looking to take his first victory after three second places in a row, set a new lap record as he opened out a half a second advantage.
CF Motorsport's Cooper didn't give up on the last lap, setting a new lap record of his own, but Gearlink's Hedger held on to take the victory by just 0.087 of a second. James Lodge fought off the pressure of Simpkin to take third place but Go Racing Developments rider, Simpkin, still leads the championship by sixteen points from race winner, Hedger.
Michael Robertson held on to a lonely fifth place, with Mark Wilkinson winning the battle for sixth place. Gearlink Kawasaki's Wilkinson beat Grant Whitaker and Tim Hastings to take ten points, with Levi Day and Tom Fisher rounding out the top ten.