Local boy Shane Byrne held off a spirited challenged by Aussie Josh Brookes to take victory in the opening MCE British Superbike race of the day at Brands Hatch with Tommy Hill promoted to third place when team-mate Noriyuki Haga crashed at Graham Hill Bend on the final lap (see below).
Byrne and Brookes were separated by only half a second after 18 laps of the GP circuit. The Kent man looked to have problems on corner exit but was making it up on the way in. Tyco Suzuki's Brookes was looking every which way for a pass but just couldn't make it - Byrne using a sweeping line into Druids to stop the usual dive on the brakes.
Haga was in second for a majority of the race after he passed the Samsung Honda of Michael Laverty. Brookes demoted him to third on lap 13 but he managed to stay in touch only to lose the front into the downhill right. Hill had a clutch problem on the warm-up lap and rode conservatively for the opening circuits but came through to sit on the final podium spot with Laverty behind.
Tommy Bridewell took another top-five finish after passing Stuart Easton and Chris Walker in the latter stages. He benefits from Haga's non-score with more points going towards his Showdown spot. Alex Lowes also passed Easton in the last throes.
Alastair Seeley was ninth with Michael Rutter rounding out the top ten. Karl Harris scored some points on his return to BSB in 13th place but t was disaster again for Ian Lowry who crashed out on lap six and drops further back in the fight for the final Showdown positions.
Grid for race two
Brookes (pole), Laverty, Haga Byrne
Lowes, Hill, Hickman, Walker
Championship points
Tommy Hill 250
Shane Byrne 230
Josh Brookes 226
Michael Laverty 159
Tommy Bridewell 115
Noriyuki Haga 102
