Race 1
Jason O’Halloran celebrated his second victory in the 2023 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the BikeSocial Sprint Race at Thruxton with the McAMS Yamaha rider delivering a winning performance as rookie Charlie Nesbitt celebrated a debut podium finish for MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing.
O’Halloran had started from the Omologato Pole Position and he hit the front of the pack, but Lee Jackson briefly took the lead on lap five, but the ‘O’Show’ retaliated to regain the position a lap later.
O’Halloran was then at the head of the pack but it wasn’t until the closing laps when he was able to break away from the freight train of riders lining up in the podium battle at the Hampshire circuit.
The pack in the battle for the final podium positions comprised four riders as the rookies were embroiled in the tussle with Charlie Nesbitt and Max Cook taking on Ryan Vickers and Lee Jackson.
On the final lap, Vickers and Jackson were trading blows into the Chicane for the final time, but the pair gave Nesbitt the opportunity he needed and he outdragged them to the chequered flag to take a first Bennetts BSB podium finish, becoming the tenth rider this season to celebrate a top three result.
Race 2
In the second race of the weekend O’Halloran carved his way through the pack to claim victory, coming from tenth at the end of lap one to snatch the lead in the closing stages to hold off Jackson who took both his and the Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki team’s first podium of 2023.
O’Halloran had started seventh on the grid, but at the end of the opening lap, he was down to tenth and then had to work his way back through the pack. It wasn’t until the final five laps when he had moved into fourth and then he was battling for the lead with Jackson with three laps to go.
After trading positions, the Australian was able to make a break on the final two laps to maintain his impressive winning form at Thruxton, celebrating his 25th race win in Bennetts BSB.
Jackson meanwhile had pushed through to second after an intense battle that featured no less than eight riders throughout the 20-lap contest.
The Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki rider had the edge over the fight for third, but it was disappointment for his teammate, rookie Max Cook, who had been mixing it with the more established contenders all weekend.
Rookie Nesbitt continued his impressive performance this weekend to return to the podium holding off Ryan Vickers on the leading LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha who had been one of six different riders to lead the pack during the race.
Race 3
In the final race of the weekend, again O’Halloran had to fight his way through to the front; ending the opening lap in tenth place, losing a place from his ninth place grid position.
The O’Show once again though delivered a calculated performance to work his way through the pack, keeping his calm to move up the order. At mid-race distance, he was seventh and it wasn’t until the closing laps that he made his final charge.
O’Halloran moved from fourth to second on lap 18 of 20 with a decisive move to pass both Nesbitt and Jackson. The Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki rider though fought back to regain the lead, but on the penultimate lap, the McAMS Yamaha emerged ahead and then held off the counter challenge to take the triple win.
The treble victory has launched O’Halloran from sixth in the standings before round seven, up to third ahead of Cadwell Park on the August Bank Holiday.
Jackson and rookie Nesbitt returned to the podium for the second time today as Cook celebrated equalling his strongest result in his first Bennetts BSB season with another fourth place.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings:
1. Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) 263
2. Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) 236.5
3. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 212.5
4. Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 208
5. Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) 201
6. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki) 185.5
7. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) 178
8. Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 175
9. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) 159
10. Danny Kent (Lovell Kent Racing Honda) 115
