Irwin crashes unhurt as Kennedy secures title

Glenn Irwin's chances of winning a first British Superbike title are all but mathematically over after the PBM Ducati rider crashed out unhurt in the first race of the weekend at Brands Hatch on Saturday.

After starting well down the grid after an issue in qualifying, the Carrickfergus rider worked his way through the field up to fourth position before coming off on lap 15 of 20.

Danny Kent won the race on his Yamaha, with Ryan Vickers second, Tommy Bridewell third on his Honda and Kyle Ryde fourth.

Defending champion Bridewell leads Ryde by just one point going into Sunday's final two races, with Irwin now well adrift in third, 69 points in arrears of Ryde.

Dubliner Jack Kennedy won the opening Supersport race at Brands to secure an unassailable lead at the top of the championship standings and clinch his fifth British title in that class.

Scott Swann was fourth and David Allingham seventh in the first National Superstock event, won by Milenco by Padgett's Honda rider Luke Mossey.

Joe Talbot was second to reduce his deficit at the top of the series to eight points behind third-placed finisher Davey Todd ahead of Sunday's final race.