Jason O'Halloran carved his way through the Bennetts British Superbike Championship pack in race two to claim his second win at Thruxton, coming from tenth at the end of lap one to snatch the lead in the closing stages to hold off Lee Jackson who took Kawasaki’s first podium of the season for Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki.
O’Halloran had started seventh on the grid, but at the end of the opening lap, he was down to tenth and then had to work his way back through the pack. It wasn’t until the final five laps when he had moved into fourth and then he was battling for the lead with Jackson with three laps to go.
After trading positions, the Australian was able to make a break on the final two laps to maintain his impressive winning form at Thruxton, celebrating his seventh win in eight races at the Hampshire circuit and his 25th in Bennetts BSB.
Jackson meanwhile had fought his way through to second after an intense battle that featured no less than eight riders throughout the 20-lap contest. The Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki rider had the edge over the fight for third to celebrate the first Team Green podium of the season, but it was disappointment for rookie Cook. The local contender was embroiled in the tussle in the leading group, but on lap 14 it got congested into the Chicane and he ended up on the kerb and consequently crashed out unhurt.
The pack continued to shuffle with the lead group constantly changing positions and it was a traditional Thruxton dogfight until the finish, with nothing separating the top eight contenders.
Rookie Charlie Nesbitt continued his impressive performance this weekend to return to the podium holding off Ryan Vickers on the leading LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha who had been one of six different riders to lead the pack during the race.
Jack Kennedy moved through the order to finish inside the top five again, finishing ahead of Kyle Ryde and Leon Haslam on the leading BMW, narrowly ahead of Peter Hickman who completed the top eight.
Christian Iddon was the top Ducati contender in ninth place for the Oxford Products Racing Ducati with Danny Kent completing the top ten for the Lovell Kent Racing Honda team. Championship leader Tommy Bridewell was 14th on the BeerMonster Ducati.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 2 result:
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha)
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) +1.176s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing) +2.185s
- Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +2.773s
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha Racing) +2.807s
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +5.090s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +7.259s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +7.407s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +7.728s
- Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) +8.021s
For the full race result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 262
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 233.5
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 199
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 194.5
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 191
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 178
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 169.5
- Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 164
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 153
- Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 115
For the full standings please click here