Billy McConnell claimed his first win of the season in the Pirelli National Superstock Championship with victory in the opening race of the weekend at Thruxton.

The C&L Fairburn Properties/Jackson Racing Honda rider diving up the inside of championship leader Dan Linfoot (Optimum Bikes Honda) at the last corner of the last lap.

The duo, along with fellow Honda rider Richard Kerr (AMD Motorsport), had been locked in battle for the entire 14 laps although it was Linfoot who led for the majority of the way, McConnell briefly taking the lead on the eight lap before Linfoot regained control.

Kerr joined the battle after coming through from tenth on the grid, but it looked like Linfoot would hold on for his sixth win of the season. However. McConnell had other ideas and left his brakes to the last minute at the final chicane and with Linfoot running slightly wide, Kerr took the full advantage to claim second at the chequered flag.

It was an important move too as the result saw Kerr cut Linfoot’s lead in the championship standings to eight points.

Further back, pole man Lewis Rollo (IN Competition Aprilia) took a strong fourth, just unable to keep tabs with the leading three, but he was well clear of the battle for fifth which went the way of Alastair Seeley (Synetiq BMW) from Ashley Beech (Jones Dorling Honda), the returning Tim Neave (Marvel HCL Motorsport Honda) and Joe Talbot (JR Performance Racing Honda).

The TAG Racing Honda pairing of Shaun Winfield and Matt Truelove completed the top ten.