Seeley Wins Epic Supersport Scrap at Thruxton

Alastair Seeley scored a hat trick of Motorpoint British Supersport Championship race wins to grab the lead in the chase for the Motorpoint British Supersport title in a dramatic finale to the opening Sprint race.

The Martrain Yamaha rider had been at the heart of the action amid a five rider scrap for the lead as the slip-streaming battles saw numerous changes of lead and position.

Supersport action at Thruxton - image (c) Polarity Photo — Supersport action at Thruxton – image (c) Polarity Photo

Seeley however saved the best for last, timing his decisive move to perfection on the dash into Club Chicane for the final time. A delighted Seeley said: “I played it just right on the final lap and was in the right place at the right team in the slip-streaming. Early on I had to overcome what was not the best of starts, but I picked myself up and this place is slip-stream city and I was quickly up with them.”

Luke Jones, aboard the Acumen Industrial Service Triumph, had made the early running and was always in contention as he fought for positions with the Smiths Triumph duo of Billy McConnell and Graeme Gowland as Seeley pushed ahead.

Gowland swooped through from third to first on the penultimate lap to set up a real thriller, but going into the Club Chicane for the final time McConnell made an aggressive move to grab second place on the road. McConnell was later penalised for the move which was made in a waved yellow flag zone, demoting him two places to fourth.

Jones was credited the second place ahead of Gowland with McConnell fourth from Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin and Profile Techcare Triumph’s Luke Mossey. Alex Olsen won the Supersport Evo class ahead of Tim Hastings and Danny Webb.

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Thruxton, Sprint race result:

1. Alastair Seeley (MarTrain Yamaha)
2. Luke Jones (Acumen Industrial Services Triumph) +0.519s
3. Graeme Gowland (Smiths Triumph) +0.872s
4. Billy McConnell (Smiths Trumph) +1.801s
5. Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) +1.805s

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship standings

1. Alastair Seeley (Martrain Yamaha) 177
2. Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph) 175
3. Graeme Gowland (Smiths Triumph) 167
4. Luke Jones (Acumen Industrial Services Triumph) 139
5. Luke Stapleford (Profile Triumph) 133