Yamaha’s Ben Watson came out on top of the MX2 Brit pack at Matterley as crashes, bike issues and poor starts hampered our trio of podium hopefuls.

Watson slipped off early on in the first moto but got back on and made a charge through to fourth place – helped when fellow Brit Conrad Mewse dropped back from fourth to sixth on the last lap when his bike started to slow.

Second time out Watson was inside the top ten at the start and made his way through to an eventual fifth spot, good enough for fifth overall. He’s now fifth in the world championship chase.

Mewse had been challenging for third place in the opening moto behind Thomas Kjer Olsen, Henry Jacobi and Tom Vialle. But his bike went sick on the last lap and he finished sixth. Second time out he was mid pack but had a gearbox problem and was eventually credited with 34th after failing to finish.

It was also disappointment for Adam Sterry, who set the fastest time in practice. In the first race he didn’t get the best of starts and pulled through to 11th. Second time out he was dead last round the first corner and made a strong ride through the pack to 15th place for 12th overall, one slot in front of Mewse.

At the head of the pack, Olsen took a double win to show he’s a man who means business. With Jorge Prado absent through injury, Olsen now leads the world championship.

Jacobi took second overall with second and third place finishes while Tom Vialle, who led, took third overall after losing places towards the end of both motos.