McCarthy dominated the race which was reduced to 20-laps after heavy rain earlier in the day had caused delays to the Brands hatch programme. The Australian led the pack into Paddock Hill Bend on the opening lap and eventually crossed the line almost six seconds ahead of Kawasaki’s Gary Mason. Rob Frost finished third while series leader, Jim Moodie, finished fifth. Moodie now heads McCarthy by sixteen points in the championship table.

McCarthy knew that he had to win the eleventh round encounter to take the series into the final round and he was delighted to take his fifth victory of the season.

"We were lucky with the weather really," said the 30-year-old. "I don’t mind the rain and won a wet one at Cadwell in August. The CBR worked really well with the Dunlop wets and we were able to dial out some front end problems we had in qualifying.

"I said last week after Mallory that the Fat Lady was on the bus," continued McCarthy, "but she’s not here yet. I’ll just have to do the same thing at Donington and see what happens behind me."

Results (Brands Hatch, 1.22 miles – 20 laps): 
1 Kirk McCarthy (Castrol Honda) 17m55.953s, 
2 Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +5.834, 
3 Rob Frost (Yamaha) +14.058, 
4 Howard Whitby (Honda) +14.141, 
5 Jim Moodie (Yamaha) +23.079, 
6 Danny Beaumont (Yamaha) +24.484, 
7 Mark Heckles (Honda) +28.197, 
8 Steve Brogan (Castrol Honda) +33.282, 
9 Ian Lougher (Yamaha) +37.874, 
10 Blair Degerholm (Kawasaki) +38.008.

Championship points after 11 of 12 rounds: 
Moodie 223, McCarthy 207, Dean Thomas (Ducati) 128, Whitby 120, Glen Richards (Honda) 110, Chris Vermeulen (Honda) 81, Frost 75, Mason 73, Brogan 71, Beaumont 49.

Final round – Donington Park, 8 October