By After drama a plenty, Glenn Irwin leaves Oulton Park still in the lead of the 2020 British Superbike Championship, albeit by just one point over Jason O’Halloran.
Going into today’s action the four times North West 200 winner had held a pretty commanding 30 point Championship lead.
Misfortune was to strike the Honda Racing rider in BSB race 2, with technical issues forcing his first retirement of the season.
A top six finish was to follow in the corresponding Superbike race stint which proved just enough to remain in current pole position for the BSB series title.
World’s fastest road racer Peter Hickman endured a much more productive day’s racing, registering a brace of top ten finishes including a strong run to eighth in the third and final Superbike encounter.
ON1 Racing’s Brian McCormack a retirement in BSB Race 3, took a very creditable 19th place finish within the prior premier class race tussle.
Same as yesterday, the International roads challenge within the Superstock 1000 category was led by Edwards 1902 BMW’s Ian Hutchinson, who placed eighth.
Davey Todd took 15th, 94 times Oliver’s Mount, Scarborough winner Dean Harrison, 19 times TT winner Michael Dunlop respectively acquired 16th, 17th place finishes.
Immingham’s Craig Neve 6th in the Ducati TriOptions Cup race, finished 20th whilst PRL Racing’s Sam West scored another respectable 24th place finish.
Reflecting this afternoon’s ultra-entertaining British Supersport race, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston was again in prime contention for a podium finish.
Photo by Tommy Vennard
Despite dropping back to sixth come the completion of the 15-lap race, twice Steve Henshaw Gold Cup winner Johnston showed again that he’s back to his best at purpose built racing venues.
North West 200 kingpin Alastair Seeley overall 10th, finished fourth in terms of British GP2 competitors whilst DC Racing’s Mike Norbury 23rd overall banked another Supersport points finish.
Real roads favourites not mentioned yet who it’s fair to say this afternoon endured mixed fortunes were 11th place finisher in the second National Superstock 600 race, Binch Racing’s Adam McLean.
23 times TT winner John McGuinness, placing ninth within the final Ducati TriOptions Cup encounter and Team ILR with Mark Coverdale’s Joe Loughlin, a non-finisher from the above mentioned Supersport race, following an incident at Old Hall.
Words by Stevie Rial
