Luke Stapleford has gone 58 points clear of Jack Kennedy in the championship chase after beating his rival by more than a second in today’s Sprint.
The Scars-Racing Ducati rider, who has been fastest all weekend so far, started today’s 12-lapper from pole ahead of Honda Racing UK’s Kennedy with Oli Bayliss, who had been due to start from p3, missing from the grid after a crash in qualifying.
Stapleford shot off the line but behind, Harry Truelove also made a scorching start from the second row, passing Stapleford in the opening lap to hit the front as Kennedy also passed his title rival to start the second lap in second position.
Stapleford moved back ahead of Kennedy on the fourth lap and it almost seemed that Kennedy’s challenge was over when he made contact with Truelove’s rear wheel and dropped a few places.
Kennedy’s team-mate Dean Harrison was now running third and the top three stayed the same for a handful of laps before Truelove once again hit the front on the seventh lap. It lasted just a lap, however, as Stapleford quickly came back and took the lead.
Once ahead, he almost instantly built himself a little bit of a gap as behind, Kennedy was on a charge, passing Harrison on Lap nine and moments later making a move on Truelove.
But with just three laps left, it looked unlikely he could catch Stapleford who had pulled the pin at the front. Kennedy quickly put some space between himself and Truelove but Stapleford was flying up front and it quickly became clear he couldn’t be caught.
As the flag fell at the end of Lap 12, Stapleford took victory 1.478secs clear of Kennedy – but the fight for third was much closer. Harrison was right on Truelove’s rear as through the final lap and the pair were side by side as they came to the line.
Truelove just made first, beating the second Honda Racing UK machine to third place by just 0.081secs as Lucas Brown took fifth place, another 3.386secs behind Harrison.
In the Cup, Ben Tolliday was the only one of this round’s two entrants to finish, crossing the line p17.
Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, Sprint Race result:
1. Luke Stapleford (Scars-Racing Ducati)
2. Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) +1.580s
3. Harry Truelove (McAMS Yamaha) +4.699s
4. Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) +4.717s
5. Lucas Brown (MSG Suzuki Racing) +9.943s