How Foster, Maclennan and co. made it through wind and rain to secure final spots

It was a lights-to-flag victory for Joey Foster in heat one, nursing his Ray GR08, which was using a wet set-up on a drying track in the closing stages. Neil Maclennan and Josh Smith comfortably completed the podium once Luke Williams retired with a mechanical issue five laps from home.

Jamie Thorburn finished a disappointing fourth in heat two having led before being blocked by backmarkers on two occasions at Clearways. Poleman Chris Middlehurst capitalised to win ahead of Keith Donegan and Darren Burke while Michael Eastwell dropped from fifth to 13th after being tapped into a spin on the last lap at Clearways.

A crash into the barriers from polesitter Jake Byrne at Surtees as a result of going off-line gifted victory to Matt Cowley ahead of Matt RoundGarrido and Luke Cooper in heat three. Oliver White had charged through from 24th to sixth before being excluded for a yellow flag infringement.

Foster battled hard for victory against Cowley and Donegan in the slower of the two semi-final contests due to a safety car.

Jordan Dempsey finished seventh but was excluded after colliding with Thorburn going up to Druids, which forced the latter into retirement.

Maclennan surged through from third to win the other semi-final with a late lunge on Middlehurst at Graham Hill Bend.

James Roe Jr, Ross Martin and Eastwell completed the top three spots of the last chance race after all three had excursions during their heats and semifinals. Thorburn’s charge from the back of the grid ended with a crash coming out of Druids following contact with Jason Down.