Ben Currie has leapfrogged Rhys Irwin in the championship chase after taking victory in a stop-start Supersport race at Thruxton.
The race was initially stopped on the third lap when points and race leader Rhys Irwin crashed heavily and collected Ollie Barr – and then a restarted 14-lap race was then stopped after four laps due to another big crash.
Race chiefs finally gave the go-ahead for a nine lap scrap, with Eugene McManus starting on pole ahead of Currie and Luke Stapleford.
Moto Rapido Ducati Racing’s Currie got the best start to hit the front and led into Lap Two, closely followed by Stapleford and McManus – and then the Safety Car was deployed to deal with another crash.
When it pulled in at the start of Lap Five, Currie managed to keep everyone behind him, with Stapleford snapping at his heels.
The Macadam Triumph Racing rider made a move for the front at the chicane and led for two laps before Currie came back – and a charging Joe Talbot also got into the mix, passing Stapleford to move into second.
Moments later, the race was stopped again, this time as the result of a crash by Max Wadsworth and the result was declared. Currie was the winner, with Talbot second, Stapleford third, McManus fourth and Jack Kennedy fifth.
Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, Feature Race:
1. Ben Currie (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing)
2. Joe Talbot (Binch Pro Ducati) +0.191s
3. Luke Stapleford (Macadam Triumph Racing) +0.356s
4. Eugene McManus (MMB Racing Ducati) +0.618s
5. Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) +0.762s
Championship positions after Round Six:
1. Ben Currie 215
2. Rhys Irwin 206
3. Jack Kennedy 176
4. Luke Stapleford 169
5. Joe Talbot 156