BSB: O’Halloran Doubles Up at Oulton Park

Jason O’Halloran secured his second win of the weekend in a close race at Oulton Park.

The Yamaha rider led from the lights and made no mistake to hold Christian Iddon behind him. Danny Buchan completed the podium in third.

Glenn Irwin’s championship lead shrank to five points over O’Halloran as the Irishman had to retire his Honda with technical issues. Iddon sits third, 22 points off the top.

Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) took the holeshot from pole and led into Old Hall from Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha), Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) and Danny Buchan (Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki).

Iddon wasted no time and swiftly made his way past Mackenzie who subsequently also had to surrender to Buchan. While a trio started to break away at the front, the two Honda Racing machines of Andrew and Glenn Irwin lined up behind Mackenzie followed by Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati), Bradley Ray (Synetiq BMW Motorrad) and Lee Jackson (Rapid Fulfillment FS-3 Kawasaki).

Andrew Irwin made his move on Mackenzie on Lap 2 and though the Scotsman tried everything to hold on to his position, Irwin prevailed. Brookes was on the move, claiming Glenn Irwin on Lap 2 before taking Mackenzie at Old Hall and Andrew Irwin at Knickerbrook on Lap 3. The Australian had his sight firmly set on the leading trio and gradually reeled them in.

Mackenzie was running into issues and lost out to Glenn Irwin, Ray and Jackson over the course of two laps, the trio running a stronger pace and breaking away from him. Jackson was the fastest of the group and easily moved past Ray on Lap 7 before lining up a move on Irwin going into Old Hall on Lap 9.

Jackson outbraked his rival, but Irwin fought back, the pair exchanging punches before the Kawasaki rider managed to stay ahead. Running at superior pace, he started to stretch out an advantage but ran wide on Lap 10, dropping down to 10^th and facing a comeback mission.

Ray had got past Irwin, but the duo was being reeled in by Mackenzie and Luke Mossey (Rich Energy OMG Racing). Jackson quickly caught up with the pack and was by Mossey and all over Mackenzie’s rear wheel by Lap 12, suggesting the potential of his race pace.

The race was over for championship leader Irwin at the end of Lap 12 when he retired his Honda due to technical issues. Despite staying in the championship lead regardless, he looked at a significantly reduced advantage, particularly with runner-up O’Halloran still leading the race.

Out front, the order in the leading quartet had not changed with O’Halloran heading Iddon, Buchan and Brookes. The Australian’s chasers managed to close in and put him under severe pressure under braking, but the Yamaha was superior through the corners and allowed O’Halloran to stay in front.

Brookes started to lose touch to the front trio in the final fourth of the race and the fight for victory was reduced to three riders. Behind them, Jackson was on the move. The Kawasaki rider claimed Mackenzie for seventh on Lap 14 and sat Ray up going into Lodge on Lap 15. Andrew Irwin, who had been running in a lonely fifth place, was his next target and the hunt was on.

O’Halloran and Iddon pulled away from Buchan on the final lap, making it a two-horse race for the win. Iddon was desperately looking for an opportunity, but O’Halloran managed his position well and left his opponent no chance.

The Yamaha rider took the chequered flag with a two tenths advantage over Iddon and clinched his second win of the weekend. Buchan came home unchallenged in third, Brookes now running more than three seconds behind him.

Jackson claimed Irwin on the final lap to finish fifth ahead of Mackenzie who found late race pace to beat both Irwin and Ray to the line. Mossey was ninth from Peter Hickam (Global Robots BMW) and Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing). The Buildbase Suzukis of Gino Rea and Kyle Ryde completed the race in 12^th and 13^th respectively while Ryan Vickers (RAF Regulars and Reserves Kawasaki) and Hector Barbera rounded out the points ranks.