Reigning World Supersport champion Dominique Aegerter has won his eighth race in a row during Saturday's shortened Donington Par🎃k encounter.

After an abandoned start due to a visor issue for Unai Orradre, the restart began wit🗹h Nicolo Bulega bolting into the lead ahead of pole man Ae💧gerter.

But red flags were raised at the end of the lap after an earlier incident on the exit of the old hairpin. Peter Sebestyen had highsided, with Orradre completing a nightmare few minutes 🉐by clipping Sebestyen's machine, the impact causing Orradre's bike to drop fluid on the track.

It was third time lucky for the now reduced 12-lap race, Aegerter squꦍeezing out Bulega for the holeshot before Can Oncu passed them both to lead by the end of a frantic opening lap.

Aegerter lost further places to Bulegꦉa and Baldassarri - but Bulega got over excited, snatching the lead a🌊nd then crashing out at the Melbourne hairpin.

That left Baldassarri upfront from Aegerter, the Swiss star stalking his prey as they pulled away from the pack before calmly passing his fellow Yamꦍaha rider into the Melbourne Loop with four laps to go.

Baldassarri made a valiant 𝓰effort to stay in touch with the Ten 🌸Kate rider, but couldn't get within striking distance.

"Eight races in a row is special for sure!" Aegerter said. "It takes a lot of thi🍎ngs to be in place.

"I love riding at Donington, my last time here was 2009 on the 125. I hope&n🎐bsp;we have another great battle tomorrow, over the full distance and it's nice to see so many fans around the track. Thanks for cheering!"

4 seconds behind them Ya♔ri Montella, Raffaele de Rosa and Glenn van Straalan duked it out for the remaining podium position. The Ducati rider emerged triumphant for a first rostrum of the year, while van Straalan highsided out at the Fogarty Esses on the last lap.

Jules Cluzel suffered a massive highside on the exit o♐f the final corner just before the midway stage, leaving the Frenchman holding his ankle and ultimatel🎀y carried away on a stretcher.

Aegerter's title lead now sta💜nds at 59-points over Baldassarri heading into Sunda🍎y's second race.