Luke Stapleford was back on top this afternoon as he saw off a hard challenge from Jack Kennedy to take the Sprint race win.
After a strong Friday, the Scars-Racing Ducati rider had only managed to qualify in ninth spot for the opening race of the year – but it did little to slow him down once the flag fell.
McAMS Yamaha’s Ben Currie took the lead as the 12-lap race began, passing polesitter Lucas Brown at the start as Lee Johnston also found a way through to move into second.
On Lap Three, multiple champ Jack Kennedy passed Brown – and Brown’s race ended prematurely a few moments later as he crashed out at the end of the lap.
On the fourth lap, Johnston took the lead from Currie and the pair swapped placed a few times over the next few laps – but behind, Stapleford was coming.
He made the move for the lead on the sixth lap as the rest battled behind, Johnston and Kennedy both passing Currie. By Lap Nine, Kennedy was running second and behind him, Johnston crashed out at Knickerbrook.
Kennedy continued to chase Stapleford for the remaining laps and despite closing right in on his rival, was unable to get past. Stapleford won by 0.151secs, with Kennedy second and Currie third.
Dean Harrison was fourth on the second Honda Racing UK machine with Australia’s Jack Mahaffy taking fifth.
Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, Sprint race result:
1. Luke Stapleford (Scars-Racing Ducati)
2. Jack Kennedy (Honda Racing UK) +0.151s
3. Ben Currie (McAMS Yamaha ) +1.969s
4. Dean Harrison (Honda Racing UK) +5.283s
5. Jack Mahaffy (Astro-JJR HIPPO Suzuki) +5.925s