CONNELL CLAIMS THE METRO SPOILS

MG Metro Cup points leader Ben Rushworth could manage only fifth in round six of the championship at Mallory Park as winner Lee Connell enjoyed his first podium finish of the season.

Connell started strongly from the outside of the front row and led into Gerard’s Bend, with Rushworth dropping back from pole into fourth. He made two places back on the second lap, however, then dived through on the inside of Connell at Gerard’s to take the lead on lap four.

Rushworth built a small margin but problems set in and Connell retook him at the Esses on lap 11, with the battling Ashtons following through a couple of laps later. Richard Garrard won the drag race to fourth position at the flag from the down-on-power Rushworth, while up the road Andrew Ashton got the better of brother Jack, having been behind for much of the contest.

Doug Cole won the first MG Trophy bout in spite of being caught off guard