Scott Ogden took the first win of the 2019 British Talent Cup in style at Silverstone, converting his first pole position into his first victory and fighting off a good group of frontrunners to get the job done. It was a close fight for the top step, however, with six riders within two tenths over the line and the podium completed by Brian Hart and Cameron Horsman, split by only 0.002.

Ogden got the holeshot from pole despite initially seeming to bog down, and the number 4 set out his intent from the start as he was a constant frontrunner and threat. With a big group all close on the first lap – and no big drama with a clean start – it was Ogden and fellow front row starter Fenton Seabright initially duelling, but they had some close company from the likes of Horsman and the group behind; the number 23 making a stellar start from a little further back on the grid.

Seabright seemed eager to lead in the first few laps, and looked like he’d be a key protagonist throughout the race. But the front group lost him from the fight as he was collected after a crash for Elliott Pinson, and the lead group became nine, occasionally six, as those just behind would catch the fight and then fade slightly back off them again.

As it came down to the latter stages, it was Horsman in the lead and Scott Swan making some choice moves and headlines in the group on the chase, he another who made some serious progress up from his starting position. The number 23 of Horsman had just enough breathing space at the front, however, and it seemed as though he’d have a chance to break away. But even as those just behind squabbled, it wasn’t quite enough and the gap kept the group close but not quite close enough – until Ogden really pulled the pin. First fighting through to the front of the chasing pack, the number 4 then unleashed a lap half a second quicker than Horsman to immediately reel him in. Not wasting much time attacking, it became an almighty fight for the win.

Despite positions swapping constantly throughout the group, it was Horsman vs Ogden at the front and Ogden ahead over the line as the last lap began. Horsman attacked quickly, but maybe too early as the number 4 machine behind was then able to make a pass and make it stick to lead into the final corner – as Brian Hart then pounced in the aftermath for a perfect pickpocket move on Horsman to takeover in second. Ogden crossed the line a tenth clear, with Hart able to hang on for an impressive P2, pipping Horsman to the line by just two thousandths.

Charlie Farrer took fourth as his impressive 2019 form rolled into race day, so close to a podium, ahead of a best ever finish for Rhys Irwin as the Irishman completed the top five. Locking out that incredibly close group was Charlie Atkins, five positions back from the win in P6 but only two tenths off.

Jamie Davis took seventh ahead of Scott Swan despite some impressively brutal moves from the latter in the fight throughout, with Harvey Claridge taking P9 and that trio covered by only a couple of tenths, too.

Torin Collins completed the top ten and took the honour of top rookie by quite a time margin, ahead of a duel between Corey Tinker and Osian Jones for P11, the former coming out on top. It was a three-way fight to complete the points, too, with Jamie Lyons, William Lathrope and Harry Leigh crossing the line incredibly close together in that order.

There is more BTC action on Sunday as Race 2 gets underway at 10:30 (GMT +1).

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