Mar-Train Yamaha’s Alistair Seeley clinched his third Motorpoint British Supersport victory on the bounce after drafting past fellow championship contender Graeme Gowland on the last lap.
Premier Velocity Triumph’s Luke Jones took the holeshot from pole position but was quickly outmuscled by Seeley for the lead. The duo then came under pressure from Smiths Triumph’s Graeme Gowland and Billy McConnell, with all four riders taking the lead at one point during the race.
Gowland slipstreamed his way past Seeley on the penultimate lap to lead over the line. However, Seeley replicated the move Gowland had put on him a lap earlier to retake the lead and clinch his third consecutive victory.
On the brakes into the Club Chicane, McConnell edged past Gowland with the pair colliding during the pass forcing Gowland wide. McConnell came across the line in second place just ahead of Luke Jones who capitalised on Gowland being forced wide to take third place.
However, after the race had finished, McConnell was given a two position penalty as his move on Gowland was deemed to be under yellow flags. That promoted Jones to second, Gowland to third but more importantly, handed Seeley the championship lead by just two points.
Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin came across the line in fifth place, ahead of Profile Triumph’s Luke Mossey who battled through from 20th on the grid to claim not only sixth place but due to his fastest lap of the race, Mossey will be on pole position for tomorrow’s feature race. His Profile Triumph teammate, Luke Stapleford, came through in seventh place.
Tyco Suzuki’s Taylor Mackenzie battled to eighth place, eventually getting the better of Floridian James Rispoli, aboard his Traction Control Yamaha, and Appleyard Macadam’s Jake Dixon, who came through from the back of the grid to salvage a top ten finish.
