Shane Byrne has romped away with the first British Superbike race at Thruxton this afternoon, crossing the line a full two seconds ahead of HM Plant Honda’s Cal Crutchlow with NW200 Ducati’s Michael Rutter taking the final podium place.
Leon Haslam led the field into turn one followed by Crutchlow and Rutter. By the end of the first lap, Crutchlow had the lead ahead of his team-mate but with Karl Harris in close attendance. BSB rookie Adam Jenkinson on the SMT Honda was proving he was just as good in the dry as the wet and was holding a steady sixth.
On lap three Harris had to pull out with a mechanical problem and demonstrated his sheer disappointment and frustration with such an disastrous start to his successful practice results. Back at the front Byrne started his move up the field, passing Rutter. Jenkinson held on to his now-fifth place.
Shakey closed in on Haslam over the next couple of laps to finally grab second whilst Crutchlow pulled away at the front. Tom Sykes was leading the next group ahead of Leon Camier and James Ellison, but at that point they were a second off the leading group. Sykes is suffering with an injured left thumb, which he uses for the rear brake.
As they settled into a rhythm, lap six saw Byrne seriously mount a charge for the lead. Jenkinson started to fall into the clutches of Michael Laverty, the current supersport champion, and Simon Andrews. It was not to be for Jenkinson as, on lap eight, his engine blew – a cruel end after such a stunning ride.
On lap 12, the leading four started to become one group again, Shakey finally went underneath Crutchlow at Allard, but the Honda man tried to come back at him on the back straight with what looks like a top-end advantage. He thought better of it into the last turn.
Lap 13 saw Michael Rutter take third place from Haslam who looked to be having tyre problems.
Leon Camier moved up to sixth past Tom Sykes on lap 17, but this second group were at least eight seconds behind the leading four. Scott Smart and Stuart Easton were was the movers of the race by finishing 16th and ninth respectively from 28th and 20th grid slots.
Sean Emmett finished 11th demonstrating why not to be under-estimated and proving to AIM Yamaha he is worth the opportunity they have given him. John Laverty led the Cup Championship in 12th ahead of Chris Burns and Stever Mercer, who after yesterday’s crash in qualifying may have banana-shaped bike.
Bennetts British Superbikes race one - conditions dry
1 Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 25.33.903
2 Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 25.36.209
3 Michael Rutter NM200 Ducati 25.37.476
4 Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 25.44.852
5 Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati 25.52.648
6 Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 25.52.648
7 James Ellison Hydrex Honda 25.52.309
8 Simon Andrews Jentin Yamaha 25.56.306
9 Stuart Easton MSS Kawasaki 25.56.612
10 Michael Laverty Relentless Suzuki 25.57.805
11 Sean Emmett AIM Yamaha 26.10.974
12 John Laverty NW200 Ducati 26.11.315
13 Tristan Palmer Tena Honda 26.12.434
14 Billy McConnell MSS Kawasaki 26.12.547
15 Guy Martin Hydrex Honda 26.14.175
Full timesheets from Timing Solutions Ltd
