Danny Kent overcame in the intense pressure from his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals to take the race three victory for McAMS Racing Yamaha, his first double in the series following a final lap sparring match with Bradley Ray.
At the start of the race, Ray had seized the advantage off the line ahead of Christian Iddon and Kyle Ryde with Kent holding fourth. Leon Haslam was also in the mix along with Andrew Irwin and Max Cook, but the pair had a moment at Cobb on lap three and the contact dropped them both down the order.
Tyre conservation was crucial with the soaring heats at Thruxton and Ray was holding the edge with Iddon, Ryde, Kent, Haslam and Nesbitt leading the freight train of riders as nobody could break the pack.
Kent made his initial strike on lap nine as he moved to third at Club, but Nesbitt again was pushing for the podium at his home round and he had started trading blows with Ryde. The reigning champion moved into third by lap 11 and was then hunting Ray and Iddon ahead of him.
A lap later and Iddon led into Club with a move on the brakes, but just a lap later there was pandemonium at the same place with Kent making a move on Ryde and the Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider was then on the kerb on the exit. The moment cost the defending champion time and dropped him to eighth.
Ray meanwhile still had the edge over Iddon and Kent, with Nesbitt and Scott Redding the top group, but the Hager PBM Ducati rider later dropped down the order in the closing stages to end in eighth place.
Kent made his final bid for victory on the penultimate lap, moving into second and then took the lead and although Ray made a last corner strike with a move on the brakes into Club, Kent was able to hold the tighter line to make it a double dose of wins.
Ray held second from Iddon as AJN Steelstock Kawasaki they celebrated their first podium finish of the season together ahead of Ryde and Nesbitt.
Haslam was the top Ducati in sixth place, ahead of Andrew Irwin and Redding with Max Cook and Tommy Bridewell completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race 3 result:
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha)
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +0.196s
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +0.338s
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +0.512s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.874s
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +2.286s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +2.443s
- Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +3.461s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +3.787s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +4.219s
For the full result please click here
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
- Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) 260
- Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) 234
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) 170
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) 167
- Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) 163
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 139
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) 134
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 115
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) 114
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) 91