Steve Plater was the toast of the paddock at Oulton Park as he held off rival Billy McConnell to lift the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport title for the first time.

The HM Plant Honda rider held a slender 11-point lead over his Australian MAP Raceways Yamaha rival going into the final race at the Cheshire circuit.

But Plater showed his class qualifying on pole for the first time this year and then cruising across the line in first position while tyre problems saw McConnell slip to 19th.

And there was a Lincolnshire double in the Supersport class as Sam Lowes underlined his growing potential by scooping the privateers' cup crown.

There were nervy times for Plater fans early on in the race as McConnell beat the pole sitter to the first corner while Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson, from Boston, held the early lead.

Plater had clashed with McConnell on the final corner at the previous round at Silverstone and another nip-and-tuck battle looked set to unfold as they fought for the top spot.

But he was not to be outdone and worked his way to the front ahead of James Westmoreland and Wilson while McConnell's championship came to a miserable end as he slipped back through the field.

"I just managed to get on the back of Billy and was finding out where I was quicker and where he was quicker. It was different all over the circuit," explained Plater.

"I managed to get by and then had a good battle with James (Westmoreland). I desperately wanted to win so I could end the season on top of the podium."

Plater and McConnell staged an almost season-long battle and the Australian paid tribute to the new champion.

"Steve's like a fine wine, he gets better with age," joked McConnell.

"He's made just one mistake this year, at Knockhill, but he still managed to pick it up and finish in the top 10."

There was no such struggle for Team Co-ordit's Lowes though as rival Robbie Brown crashed out on lap three leaving him to coast home in 10th position and take the chequered flag with 208 championship points.

Astro Racing's Lee Jackson, from Lincoln, finished 15th at Oulton Park to move him onto 20 championship points.

In the MCE Insurance British Superbike class Ultimate Racing Yamaha's Peter Hickman ended his season in the gravel as he crashed out of the second race and didn't ride the third.

Hickman, from Louth, had finished second in race one but saw his season end prematurely, less than 24 hours later, as he fell as Hizzy's corner and failed to emerge.

The 22-year-old did console himself with second place in the Mirror.co.uk Cup with an impressive points haul of 381 – however he was still 154.5 off champion Gary Mason.

In the Relentless British 125GP championship, there was frustration for Lincoln's Ross Walker who failed to complete a lap after his machinery seized up.

But there was better news for Daniel Weston Racing's Tom Hayward, of Saxilby, who finished ninth.