Tsingtao Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan battled to his fifth Pirelli National Superstock 1000 victory of the year with a last lap, last corner lunge on Jason O’Halloran. The Essex lad fought off O’Halloran on the run to the line to clinch victory in a photo finish.
The Nandos lover and Australian O’Halloran, aboard his Honda Racing effort, quickly broke clear of the rest of field. O’Halloran posted the fastest lap of the race, a 1’36.778, which would have been good enough for ninth on the grid for tomorrow’s British Superbike race.
The electric pace of the duo made for brilliant viewing, with O’Halloran taking the lead away from Buchan with five laps remaining. The Aussie appeared to be breaking away but Buchan pulled him back in with two laps to go, setting up a showcase finish.
O’Halloran held off Buchan for the duration of the final lap before Buchan lunged through into the lead on the brakes into Lodge corner. O’Halloran tucked in behind Buchan and drafted alongside him as the pair took the chequered flag in tandem. After much deliberation and a photo finish, Buchan was handed the victory by just 0.035 of a second. His championship lead now stands at 43 points.
SMT Racing’s Filip Backlund beat Buildbase BMW’s Lee Jackson and reigning champion Hudson Kennaugh to his second podium of the year. Adam Jenkinson came through just behind the battling trio in sixth place.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Joe Burn finished in seventh place, seven seconds back on Jenkinson and five seconds clear of Honda Racing’s Freddy Foray. Rounding out the top ten Dominic Usher and Manxman Gavin Hunt.
