McConnell second in the Supersport Championship

MAP Raceways Yamaha’s Billy McConnell took second place in the hard-fought Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire this afternoon.

His race didn’t quite go to plan as his tyre went off halfway through. He had a healthy lead at this point but unfortunately he was unable to keep up the pace and dropped back out of contention. He finally came over the line in a lowly 19th position but he still had enough points to keep second in the title chase.

McConnell said: “We went for a soft tyre but unfortunately it didn’t work. I got a good start and I thought it was going to be ok but my dream turned into a nightmare pretty quickly. That’s racing I guess. A podium would have been nice but we went all out and tried our best. We’ll re-group and come back stronger.”

Ulsterman Lee Johnston had his best result of the season with a fifth place finish. He has shown potential all season but it all came together at the final round where both he and his MAP Raceways Yamaha worked well. 

Johnston said: “That was my best race of the year. I got a good start for a change and it was steady away. I was on the pace and I think I could have had a fourth place if I hadn’t got arm pump. My setup was superb and my tyre lasted all race. I’ve got to say thanks to MAP Raceways Yamaha for all their support this year my bike was superb.”

Allan Jon Venter also put a solid race together to come home in seventh place. He made some brave passing manoeuvres towards the end of the race and they made the difference between ninth and seventh place.

Venter said: “I got a good start and made the right tyre choice and by the first corner I’d made up two rows of the grid. I put my head down and every lap I rode my hardest. I went round the outside of Marty Nutt as I needed to prove I wasn’t scared! Thanks to Jason for all his hard work, to MAP Electronics, and Raceways Yamaha for all their help.”

Race result

1. Steve Plater Honda 24:59.665
2. James Westmoreland Triumph +3.496
3. Ben Wilson Kawasaki +7.910
4. Hudson Kennaugh Kawasaki +8.089
5. Lee Johnston MAP Raceways Yamaha +11.942
6. Jack Kennedy Yamaha +15.891
7. Allan Jon Venter MAP Raceways Yamaha +17.133
8. Marty Nutt Yamaha +17.218
9. BJ Toal Honda +17.304
10. Sam Lowes Honda +19.364
19. Billy McConnell MAP Raceways Yamaha +40.684

Final championship standings

1. Steve Plater 215
2. Billy McConnell 179
3. James Westmoreland 171
4. Ben Wilson 137
5. Daniel Cooper 104
6. Ian Hutchinson 78
7. Dan Linfoot 72
8. Tom Grant 65
9. Hudson Kennaugh 58
10. James Webb 57
12. Lee Johnston 52
13. Allan Jon Venter 51

Image Provided By Dave Couldwell