Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson took his first victory of the season in the dramatic, incident-packed third round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship at Oulton Park.

Wilson said: "It is great to have won our first race of the season and I have to say when the safety car came out I did feel disappointed as I lost my slight lead. It didn't matter though as we still won in the end and it comes after two disappointing rounds at Brands Hatch and Thruxton. I now want to maintain this momentum for my home round at Cadwell Park."

The conditions posed questions on tyre choice for the riders, and on the warm-up lap GNS Honda's Paul Jordan slid off and then in the wet practice session prior to the race, Allan Jon Venter also crashed out.

Glen Richards crashed his Padgetts Honda on the warm up lap, but picked himself up to take the start from the back of the grid. Ian Hutchinson took the early lead, ahead of Billy McConnell, Graeme Gowland and Wilson.

Gowland looked set to be in contention but slid off at Lodge, then McConnell crashed his CAME Yamaha at Shell and Hutchinson set the fastest lap only to tip off at Hizzy's leaving Wilson leading the pack on the third lap ahead of an injured Sam Lowes and Jack Kennedy.

Wilson held the upper-hand in the difficult conditions though Lowes on the GNS Honda, made him work hard to maintain his advantage, closing to within 0.361s at the end of the 12 lapper.

Lowes' second place finish moves him jointly into the championship lead with James Westmoreland who was forced to retire with a technical problem with the CAME Yamaha in the closing stages.

Kennedy brought his Colin Appleyard/Macadam Yamaha in a solid third ahead of MAP Centurion Triumph's Daniel Cooper who took fourth in the final laps from Richards with Tom Grant sixth.

Patrick McDougall finished seventh overall aboard the East Coast Yamaha and was the winner of the Supersport Cup, with local hero Jenny Tinmouth second in class ahead of Mark Cringle.

Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship, Oulton Park, race result:

1. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki)
2. Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) +0.361s
3. Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/ Macadam Racing Yamaha) +9.269s
4. Dan Cooper (MAP Centurion Triumph) +11.615s
5. Glen Richards (Padgetts Honda) +15.611s

Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship standings after Oulton Park:

1. James Westmoreland (CAME Yamaha) 45
2. Sam Lowes (GNS Racing Honda) 45
3. Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 34
4. Tom Grant (East Coast Racing Yamaha) 33
5. Jack Kennedy (Colin Appleyard/ Macadam Racing Yamaha) 32

The next round of the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport Championship is at Cadwell Park on 21/22/23 May.

For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com