Tim Neave made a welcome return to the top of the National Superstock Championship podium at Cadwell Park after benefiting from a penalty ahead for Billy McConnell.

Neave finished second on the road to McConnell after ceding to the his fellow Honda rider knowing the Australian would have a ten-second penalty to heed once the race was completed.

Indeed, McConnell found himself in hot water at the mid-way stage when he collided with Joe Talbot as they disputed second position, the JR Performance rider bouncing off course and out of the race.

The incident put a halt to an entertaining three-way tussle for glory with both Talbot and McConnell scrapping away with Neave, who had led from the start. Their cause was aided by title contender Richard Kerr being forced onto the grass at the opening bend when Ash Beech was bundled from his Honda.

Neave nonetheless held firm to stay clear of the drama behind, but once notice was received that McConnell would have ten seconds added onto his race time, he didn't put up much of a fight in an effort to protect his advantage.

It sees Neave - who has been drafted in to replace the BSB-bound Franco Bourne - score his first win since the early stages of the 2022 SSTK season. However, after opening up a lead in the standings, a crash at Knockhill during testing forced him on the sidelines with injury

McConnell, to his credit, pushed hard to the flag to pick up a couple of places on aggregate, eventually being classified in fourth.

Between them came Dan Linfoot, the series leader notching up another haul of points with second position on the Optimum Bikes Honda. Together with Kerr finishing down in tenth after his early delay, Linfoot is now 27 points clear of his rival overall.

Alastair Seeley got among the Honda stronghold to place his SYNETIQ BMW into third, ahead of Lewis Rollo on the IN Competition Aprilia RSV4 and Ben Luxton's Honda, the pair classified fifth and sixth respectively.