Jack Kennedy got his hunt for a second consecutive Dickies British Supersport title off to a perfect start after beating Alastair Seeley to today’s sprint race win.

After an elbows-out battle in the closing laps where the Ulsterman took to the grass, the Colin Appleyard/Macadam rider powered to the chequered flag for the opening win of the season.

​Kennedy and Jones took off at the front as the lights went out for the 18-lap scrap, but it was soon a battle of three as Seeley steadily hacked away at his deficit and caught up to the leading duo.

The Carrickfergus man took a turn at the front as he found a way past Kennedy, but the latter had the lead back with three to go as last year’s main protagonists kept the battle close.

After running nose-to-nose on the final lap, Kennedy made himself as wide as possible exiting Copse as Seeley ran onto the grass, but there was no way back from there for the EHA Racing man and he had to settle for second as Kennedy cruised to victory.

Jones took third after missing out on the runner-up spot by just a couple of tenths.