MLav VisionTrack Academy’s Johnny Garness left Knockhill 24 points clear in the Honda British Talent Cup standings despite a race one DNF.

The opening action at Knockhill boiled down to a duel between the returning Evan Belford (City Lifting by RS Racing) and Sullivan Mounsey (Wilson Racing/J&S Accessories) on Saturday - with the number 52 just able to stay ahead over the last lap and secure his first win of the season. Local rider Troy Jeffrey (ThorneyCroft56 Racing) impressed to complete the podium on home soil in Scotland, pulling clear of Bailey Stuart-Campbell (Team 151s/Lextek) by just under a second by the flag.

The key drama was two fold, however, as Garness initially pulled clear with more than three seconds in hand before sliding out, seemingly giving teammate and closest rival for the crown, Carter Brown, a chance to close in. But a handful of laps later that chance disappeared as the number 74 then suffered a technical problem, taking him out of the fight for the win.

Up ahead, Belford vs Mounsey pounded on in the lead, and the two were closely matched until the former was able to make a small gap on the final lap and stay ahead over the line, returning from injury in some style. Mounsey impressed with another showcase at the front, however, and this time is rewarded with a podium.

Behind, Jeffrey converted a good qualifying, great start and top pace into third place and a first podium, edging clear of Stuart-Campbell in the latter stages.

Garness enjoyed a redemptive Sunday, however, as the number 57 returned to the top step in race two The drama was instead reserved for Saturday’s podium sitters Mounsey and Belford with the former crashing out and collecting the latter. Brown came through to take second, just pipping Jeffrey at the line.

The early stages saw a three-rider fight as Mounsey took off, Garness then took over and Belford was once again on podium-fighting form. No one was able to pull away, but the drama hit on lap seven as Mounsey overcooked it, lost control and as he went down, made contact with Belford. The number 52 tumbled with him into the gravel, riders ok but leaving Garness with more than three seconds in hand.

That was a comparable gap to the one he enjoyed on Saturday before sliding out, but this time there were no such dramas. The number 57 kept it pinned to take another win and extend his points lead, bouncing back in style.

Brown, meanwhile, was locked in a duel with Jeffrey. The number 21 impressed again but just lost out, the two crossing the line split by little but with Brown ahead to limit the damage in the standings, losing only five points to Garness.

Kiyano Veijer (Microlise Cresswell Racing) beat teammate Harrison Dessoy to fourth, ahead of Rhys Stephenson (Rocket Racing) and another small gap back to Bailey Stuart-Campbell (Team 151s/Lextek). Harrison Crosby (Rocket Racing) got the better of Lucas Brown (SP125/Amphibian Scaffolding) in a close finish between the two while Harrison Mackay (Wilson Racing/Super Soco) completed the top ten, ahead of Ryan Hitchcock (City Lifting by RS Racing) by just 0.004 over the line.