Brad Ray powered in his fifth victory in six races to charge into contention to take the Dickies British Supersport crown but the FAB Racing Yamaha rider still has work to do to catch the leading duo in the title stakes. 

Taylor Mackenzie came out on top of a titanic scrap for second place to open up an eight points lead over CAME BPT Yamaha’s James Westmoreland who finished a close third after they had three times traded places in the final half mile of a thriller.

Ray goes into the final two rounds with a deficit of 32 points on series leading Stauff Connect Academy Kawasaki rider Mackenzie.

David Allingham shot through to take the lead through Redgate with Saturday’s race winner Ray running him close ahead of Mackenzie, Westmoreland and Mason Law. Luke Jones was sixth ahead of Ben Currie.

Ray eased ahead on the second lap and then at Melbourne Hairpin Allingham was back in third place as Mackenzie went through on the inside line with Westmoreland threatening in fourth.

Mackenzie had a fight on his hands, running a second down on race leader Ray, while fending off the advances of Westmoreland who was barely half a second adrift and briefly trading places.  Allingham was comfortable in fourth ahead of Law and Curries.

Ray had moved 1.882secs clear of Mackenzie who was given a little breathing space as Westmoreland ran wide at the Melbourne Hairpin, losing time and a place, as Allingham re-took third place. Adrift of them Joe Francis, Currie, Jones and Luke Hedger as Law pitted with a machine problem.

Westmoreland was back ahead of Allingham on the eighth lap but out front Ray, setting the fastest lap of the race was easing further clear of Mackenzie.  Westmoreland was gathering momentum and going into the second half of the race was only 0.166secs down on the young Scot.  Allingham meanwhile was seven seconds up on Francis and Currie.

Westmoreland lined up Mackenzie and attacked through the Esses, grabbing second place and making it stick, pulling a quarter of a second on his title rival, but the scrap was far from over. 

Mackenzie took a narrow line into Redgate to grab the lead, Westmoreland hit back at the Old Hairpin only for Mackenzie to go back ahead.

Ray was taking full advantage of that furious duel, gapping them by four seconds with five laps remaining as again Westmoreland snatched second place. Mackenzie was barely a couple of bike lengths down.  There was no room for error as they battle relentlessly.

Out front Ray started the final lap with a lead of 2.769secs over Westmoreland but at Redgate Mackenzie nosed through into second. Westmoreland briefly went back ahead at Melbourne Hairpin.  Mackenzie hit back, only for Westmoreland to take him going into Goddard.  But, he strayed off line and Mackenzie grabbed second.

Allingham ran fourth from Francis, Jones, Currie  and Hedger.

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