Podium Potential for Dessoy Cut Short While Stephenson Scores Top Five

Harrison Dessoy looked set for pole position at Brands Hatch on his PHR Performance Triumph but a qualifying crash saw him end the session early in fourth. A second crash during the race ended his charge for a podium. Meanwhile, Rhys Stephenson delivered a strong performance to claim a top-five finish on his Triumph Daytona 660.

Round five of the National Sportbike Championship brought the grid to Brands Hatch for a single-race weekend at the Kent circuit.

Rain loomed as the qualifying session began. Harrison Dessoy showed front-running pace on his Triumph Daytona 660 but made a mistake while trying to avoid giving a tow, slowing too much and losing tyre temperature. As he pushed for a fast lap, he crashed, bringing his session to a premature end. Despite the fall, Dessoy still secured fourth on the grid. Stephenson slotted in just behind in fifth, with Thomas Strudwick qualifying 11th. Macadam Triumph Factory Racing riders Jayden Martin, Lewis Smart, Brodie Gawith, and Katie Hand lined up 17th, 19th, 31st, and 37th respectively, with Gawith having been taken out during practice.

In the race, Stephenson got a lightning start, briefly taking the lead and remaining in the podium battle throughout. Dessoy was also at the sharp end, before crashing out of the podium positions mid-race. Strudwick made solid progress on his Daytona to move up the order.

At the flag, Stephenson was the top-finishing Triumph in fifth, with Strudwick close behind in seventh. Smart narrowly missed out on the points in 16th, followed by Martin in 19th, Gawith in 26th, and Hand in 32nd.

The National Sportbike Championship resumes in two weeks’ time at Thruxton, from 8–10 August.

TRIUMPH RESULTS - NATIONAL SPORTBIKE ROUND 5, BRANDS HATCH

Race 1:

5. Rhys Stephenson (Rocket Racing Triumph)

7. Thomas Strudwick (Structural Repairs Triumph)

14. Zak Shelton (XMT Racing Triumph)

15. Aaron Robibson (Robinson Racing Triumph)

16. Lewis Smart (Macadam Triumph)

19. Jayden Martin (Macadam Triumph)

26. Brodie Gawith (Macadam Triumph)

32. Katie Hand (Macadam Triumph)

TRIUMPH CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS

4. Harrison Dessoy (120 points)

8. Thomas Strudwick (78 points)

9. Rhys Stephenson (64 points)

10. Taylor Rose (46 points)

13. Lewis Smart (22 points)

18. Zak Shelton (17 points)

19. Jayden Martin (11 points)

23. Brodie Gawith (5 points)

29. Aaron Robinson (1 point)