Richard Cooper led throughout this penultimate race of the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship to take his first victory of the season aboard the Oxford TAG Triumph to comfortably head off title chasing Alastair Seeley by some 3.7 seconds in the damp conditions.

Gearlink rider Seeley however was not complaining too much about finishing second as his points haul moved him within four points of his Martrain Yamaha rival Stuart Easton who was slowed by a machine problem, dropping back to eleventh.

Cooper dictated terms from the front but behind him there was plenty of hectic battling with Seeley, who was second in the early stages before he was pushed back into fifth place on the fourth lap by the squabbling pack of Billy McConnell and Glen Richards on their Smiths Triumphs and Jason O'Halloran aboard the Samsung Honda.

But Seeley was full of fight hitting back swiftly to fully exploit his title rival Easton's misery as he set up a winner takes all finale. "It's déjà vu 2011," said Seeley. "I was four points down going into the last race and won. The tricky conditions this afternoon made it difficult and there was no way of catching Richard. Now I have to try and relax, keep calm and be ready for the race."

Luke Jones produced a stunning last lap charge to take third place ahead of McConnell, O'Halloran and Richards.

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Brands Hatch, sprint race:

1: Richard Cooper (Oxford TAG Triumph)
2: Alastair Seeley (Gearlink Kawasaki) +3.707s
3: Luke Jones (T3 Triumph) +5.663s
4: Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph) +6.069s
5: Jason O'Halloran (Samsung Honda) +6.114s

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship standings:

1: Stuart Easton (MarTrain Yamaha) 397
2: Alastair Seeley (Gearlink Kawasaki) 393
3: Billy McConnell (Smiths Triumph) 327
4: Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) 303
5: Graeme Gowland (Appleyard Macadam Doodson Yamaha) 245

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