Josh Elliott recorded his fourth win of the season to move 22 points clear at the top of the Pirelli National Superstock Championship with three rounds remaining. The Ballinamallard rider put in one of his most impressive rides of the campaign to take the victory ahead of Alastair Seeley at Cadwell Park and establish himself as firm favourite for the title as the season nears its climax.

“I wasn’t going to settle for second because I knew I was the quicker rider,” said Josh as he reflected on a red flag interrupted race. “I was very determined, and I just wanted to get my head down and ride my own race. I’m 22 points in the lead now and we are going into the next rounds with the same mentality - to do our best and try to get as many points as possible.” Josh qualified in second place on the grid despite not being completely happy with the set up of his bike, but he was hopeful that he would be able to battle with Seeley at the front of the pack on race day. “I was happy enough and the lap times were consistent and fast enough to be at the front, so I was confident enough going into the race,” he said. “I got a really good start and out dragged Seeley to the front corner and took the lead, and held on to it for three laps. I started to pull a gap and then there was a red flag.” The race stoppage sent everyone back to the pits and wiped out Josh’s hard fought advantage, with the riders eventually returning to the track for a short eight lap race. “I was a wee bit annoyed because I had made such a good start and was leading and then I had to do it all over again,” he admitted. “I got a decent enough start the second time around but Seeley got a good start as well and he led around turn one and I just followed him and watched him for a lap. He wasn’t doing anything exceptional and he was slower through sectors two and three but quicker on the straights. On the next lap I passed him in turn two and he got back past me down the straight. I wanted to get back into the lead because I knew he didn’t have the pace. He ran a little off line and that gave me the chance to get on the gas earlier and squirt past him. I blocked him from going past at the next corner and from then I just got the head down and made a bit of a gap, and then the red flag came out again. I’ve extended my lead with just three races to go this season, but it could have been a few more had the race not been stopped.” Only three races remain in this season’s Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship and next up is Oulton Park on 6th September followed by Silverstone on 4th October and culminating at Brands Hatch on the Grand Prix Circuit on 18th October.