Tsyers Yamaha rider Rory Skinner took his ninth win of a stellar season in the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship in the Brands Hatch gloom late on Saturday afternoon but he was made to work hard by Ben Currie (Gearlink Kawasaki) who was only 0.133s adrift at the chequered flag.

It was Currie who took the holeshot to lead the field into Paddock Hill on the opening lap and he led Skinner, Harry Truelove (Truelove Brothers Racing Yamaha), Brad Jones (Tysers Yamaha) and Bradley Perie (Diamond H Racing Yamaha) at the completion of the first 2.43 miles.

Truelove moved up to second a lap later as less than a second covered the leading quintet but the Lincolnshire youngster’s joy was short-lived as he was forced to retire just a few laps later.

Skinner was continuing to set the pace but Currie remained glued to his back wheel although he was never quite able to put himself in a position to make a pass. Jones, meanwhile, was keeping a watching brief in third as Perie slipped back.

Further back, there was nine-rider scrap going on for fifth but just as he’d moved up to fifth, Championship runner-up James Westmoreland was forced to retire, the second Gearlink Kawasaki runner going out on the penultimate lap.

There was no let up for Skinner at the head of the field but he ultimately sealed another win with Currie and Jones joining him on the podium, the latter overhauling Westmoreland in the battle for second in the Championship.

Perie had a relatively lonely ride into fourth and it was Korie McGreevy (Century Racing Yamaha) who clinched fifth on the final lap ahead of Lee Johnston (Ashcourt Racing Yamaha) and the leading two GP2 Cup riders Mason Law (Spirit Moto Corsa) and Jack Scott (JJ Racing Harris).

Scott looked like he’d take the maximum 25 points but he almost hit the rear wheel of Johnston at Clearways on the final lap and that allowed Championship rival Law to get the better of him by just 0.026s as they flashed across the line.

Rob Hartog took a solid ninth on the Bike Devil MV Agusta with Charlie Nesbitt taking tenth on the ABM Quattro and completing the GP2 Cup podium.