HOWIE Mainwaring bat- tled to his first win of the season in the National Superstock 1,000 Championship at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

The MSS Colchester Kawasaki rider, from Frodsham, took pole position at the Kent track and produced a fantastic start to lead into the first turn.

From then on, the only times Mainwaring lost the lead was when battling championship leader Richard Cooper on his BMW at the front of an entertaining 10-bike scrap for top spot.

Spots of rain then began to fall on the circuit, so Mainwaring battled to the front in case the race was cut short due to the weather.

After 10 laps, the rain was heavy enough for marshals to hold out the red flags, stopping the race with the 23-year-old declared the winner by just 0.168secs.

Mainwaring was understandably delighted after taking the victory following a couple of near-misses this season.

He said: “That win has been a long time coming and it was a fantastic race, a great battle with Cooper.

“We’ve had mega pace all through qualifying and I was really confident for the race. Cooper had loads of straight-line speed but I could make it up on the corners, especially coming out of the slower stuff.

“When I saw a few raindrops on my visor, I thought ‘time to start pushing’ as I didn’t want another Thruxton! I got to the front and stayed there this time.

“That was my first pole of the year and first win so I’d like to thank the team – they have been fantastic and stuck by me all year.”

Mainwaring’s win rockets him up from seventh to third in the championship standings, his rise boosted by rival Tristan Palmer being deducted 50 points for a technical irregularity with his Honda.

Mainwaring’s victory was also of comfort to his Kawasaki team, which saw team-mate and current championship runner-up Danny Buchan finish ninth despite recovering from a broken collarbone.

Team owner Nick Morgan said: “It was fantastic seeing Howie get a win. It’s been hard for him as the focus has been on Danny this year but what a ride – superb.

“And he rode smart, he knew that red flag was coming and made sure he was leading.

“At the end of the day I’m going home smelling of champagne on my birthday!”