Billy McConnell strengthens SS Title bid

Billy McConnell’s last lap victory increases his lead in intense Supersport title chase

Billy McConnell snatched a dramatic last corner, last lap victory to edge 12 points clear of his Smiths Triumph team-mate Grame Gowland and rival for the Motorpoint British Supersport crown in an incident-packed round at Assen.

The feature race provided the leading duo a welcome strong points haul after a problematic Sprint race on a drying track on Saturday afternoon had seen pole position starter Gowland crash on the opening lap. McConnell also had a tough start to his weekend, scoring just five points after he finished eleventh.

The Sprint race was won by Alastair Seeley, a result that gives the Ulsterman aboard the MarTrain Yamaha continuing hope that he can regain the crown, although that looks set to be a challenge for him after a first lap error in the Sunday feature race saw him run wide and lose ground, but he battled back into sixth place. The Sprint race marked a celebration for Team Traction Control as James Rispoli scored the team their first podium finish in their debut season with a third place.

A hard-fought Feature race kicked off with Luke Jones leading the early on aboard the Acumen Industrial Services Triumph, but the lead changed with every lap as the leading five riders battled for the victory.

Luke Mossey hit the front of the pack for the Techcare Profile Triumph team, but then Gowland snatched the lead, before Luke Stapleford then claimed the advantage on the Profile Triumph.

McConnell saved the best for last, swooping through from fourth to take his fifth win of the campaign going through the chicane for the final time while the hard-riding Glenn Irwin crashed out of third place on his Gearlink Kawasaki.

Ben Field, aboard his Triumph and Sam Coventry on the Road & Racing Performance FutureMoto Kawasaki took the victories in the Motorpoint Supersport EVO category.