MCCONNELL VICTORIOUS AS WESTMORELAND MAINTAINS CHAMPIONSHIP LEAD

CAME Yamaha’s Billy McConnell secured his second win of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at his home round at Mallory Park, holding off championship rivals Sam Lowes and team-mate James Westmoreland.
Gearlink Kawasaki’s Ben Wilson took the hole shot off the line from McConnell and Westmoreland but by the third lap the CAME Yamaha of McConnell had taken the lead, passing into Gerrards before team-mate Westmoreland followed, taking second from the Gearlink Kawasaki on the sixth lap. The safety car was deployed when Leon Hunt crashed at the Esses and when the race resumed, McConnell held the lead to the finish. Westmoreland fought to hold on to second place but was forced to settle for third behind rival Lowes, which now means the pair are equal on points at the top of the standings, whilst McConnell is now just two points adrift.

McConnell said: “It was a fantastic weekend for me and I have to thank everyone at CAME Yamaha for giving me the tools to do the job, as I desperately wanted to win at my home round. We built up the confidence following the win at Cadwell Park and now that is two in a row which has put me right up there in the standings. I had a great start to the weekend and took pole position so I was in a good place for the start of the race. I just went for it as I wasn’t going to give the win up for anything and pulled a bit of a gap and then the safety car came out and I couldn’t believe it. During the safety car period the clutch bracket broke and I didn’t think I would be able to finish with a win, but the Yamaha has a blip system which made it possible to continue. There is so little between myself Westy and Sam (Lowes) that now I can’t wait until Knockhill.”

Westmoreland said: “I was disappointed not to be able to challenge Billy for the win and to finish third as I felt comfortable for the first three quarters of the race. I was riding hard but within myself, so didn’t feel any pressure. I was losing a little on acceleration and so was having to make it up the brakes, but over the last laps I couldn’t push as I would have wanted and I suffered as I dropped to third. I am still at the top of the standings, albeit jointly, so we just have to do everything we can to win for the CAME Yamaha team this weekend at Knockhill.”
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, Mallory Park, race result:
Billy McConnell (CAME Yamaha)
Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) +2.033s
James Westmoreland (CAME Yamaha) +6.030s
Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) +12.929s
Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing) +13.142s
Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship Standings after Mallory Park:
James Westmoreland (CAME Yamaha) 81
Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) 81
Billy McConnell (CAME Yamaha) 79
Graeme Gowland (PTR Honda) 54
Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/Macadam Racing) 53