Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne started his campaign for an historic fourth MCE British Superbike title in dominant fashion, as he took advantage of a red flag and a crash from Milwaukee Yamaha's Josh Brookes to take the spoils in race one.
But it was not an easy race for the triple champ has he had the GBmoto duo of Chris Walker and James Ellison never too far behind. In fact it was Walker who led for most of the race only for Byrne to get the better of him with a hand full of laps remaining. In the end the Kawasaki of Byrne prevailed followed by Walker and Ellison.
Initially, Brookes got the hole-shot on lap one followed by Walker and the pair tussled for the lead, with the Kawasaki getting the better of the Yamaha who on the lap two took the lead at Druids. There was drama from the very beginning as Kiyo stalled his bike on the starting grid and some how managed not to get hit by the other bikes passing through. He ended the race in 16th.
On lap eight Brookes decided to make his move on Walker at Paddock Hill Bend which stuck. That lasted for all of three seconds as he slipped off his Yamaha at Druids while in the lead, scuppering his chances of clinching his first win of the season.
With Brookes out it gave Walker a two second lead but Byrne managed to make his way from sixth up to second, overtaking Hopkins and Ellison in the process – and by lap 12 the gap still remained with a two second advantage to Walker.
On lap 14 Ellison made his move on Superbike returnee Hopkins to go into third, but three laps later the race was red flagged after Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s James Hiller experienced engine blow-out spewing oil all over the track.
On the re-start Walker had the chance to take the lead after starting from pole for the 12 lap dash and was able to lead for one lap until Byrne took the lead at Paddock Hill Bend. But Walker was not going to give up and took the lead again on lap 3 of 12. Byrne got the drive going out of Clark Curve to retake the lead followed by Ellison, Wilson and Hopkins – and that is how it ended, with Byrne and the GBmoto Kawasaki guys taking the remaining spots on the podium. Ellison will not start on pole after setting the fastest lap in the opening race.
It was a great return to the premier class for Gearlink Kawasaki’s Ben Wilson he was able to hold off the charges of Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins and Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton to take fourth.
Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell made his way through the grid to take seventh followed, by last year’s Supersport contender Richard Cooper, with Millsport Ducati’s Jakub Smrz and James Westmoreland rounding off the top ten.
Brookes was not the only faller, GGH/STEL Suzuki’s Aaron Zanotti crashed at Druids, but was unhurt. RAF Reserves Honda’s Simon Andrews suffered a technical problem in the warm up lap in the re-start ending his chances of taking home some points.
