Stuart Easton gave the Mar-Train Yamaha team their second race win of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship season in the opening race at Thruxton this morning after a dramatic race where defending champion Glen Richards crashed out.

Richards had taken the lead on the opening lap before Alastair Seeley dived ahead at Campbell but the Smiths Racing Triumph rider was pushing hard and was back in the lead at Club before the start of lap two. The Australian then made a mistake at Campbell which pushed him wide and dropped him down the order as the Gearlink Kawasakis hit the front with Seeley leading Ben Wilson.


The pair then swapped places but by the fifth lap Easton had reclaimed the lead from Seeley and Wilson and a recovering Richards in fourth but on the eighth lap the race was red flagged as Richards high-sided on the exit of Club, with the Smiths Racing Triumph on fire. The team now face a race against time to get the bike rebuilt for this afternoon's Feature race, although the defending champion was able to walk away from the accident. Graeme Gowland was clipped by the stricken bike but skilfully was able to stay upright and claim fifth place.

Easton said:

"I wanted that one; it was typical Supersport action, up the inside, then the outside, being strong on the brakes and braking later than the others, so I am well pleased to have the win. The wind was a problem, a really strong head-wind that slowed us up with the lap times well down on those of yesterday, but it is a win for me, and that is so important."

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Thruxton, Sprint race:

Stuart Easton (Mar-Train Yamaha)
Alastair Seeley (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.248s
Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.574s
Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph) +1.406s
Graeme Gowland (Seton Tuning Yamaha) +1 lap

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship standings after Thruxton Sprint race:

Alastair Seeley (Gearlink Kawasaki) 61
Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing Triumph) 53
Stuart Easton (Mar-Train Yamaha) 50
Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 45
Graeme Gowland (Seton Tuning Yamaha) 31

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