Billy McConnell led from lights-to-flag in this afternoon's first Pirelli National Superstock 1000 race, holding off charges from Alex Olsen and Keith Farmer to take victory.

The Buildbase Suzuki rider came under threat mid-race from Astro-JJR BMW man Olsen, but held on to stretch his slender lead in the title fight from just half a point to 5.5.

McConnell shot off from pole position straight into the lead while 2016 champ Taylor Mackenzie slipped ahead of Olsen into second, heading Josh Elliott and title contender Keith Farmer after the first lap.

The Aussie began to extend his advantage over Bathams BMW's Mackenzie, but Olsen was looking for another win to carry his momentum from Silverstone as he nudged Farmer aside before kicking Elliot back to third and moving ahead of Mackenzie at Lodge to slot into second.

But OMG Racing Suzuki's Elliott wasn't having it, and after passing Mackenzie for third, the 2015 champion went back after Olsen but dropped back into a battle with Mackenzie and Tyco BMW's Farmer for third.

At the half-way point, Olsen had chopped McConnell's lead down to less than 0.4s as the duo stretched two seconds over the fight for the final rostrum spot.

But while the championship leader stretched a small gap over Olsen, Farmer destroyed the gap between them and heading down the hill into Cascades, edging Olsen for second before suffering a massive moment on corner exit, only to hold on to the runner-up spot.

Despite a last-ditch effort, Farmer had to settle for 20 points ahead of title rival McConnell while Olsen took third less than a quarter of a second further back.

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