Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki man Shane Byrne made it two out of two as he took first place in the penultimate race of the British Superbike Championship, at Brands Hatch to add to his win yesterday. But the battle for the British Superbike title is still on as Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes clinched second place on the podium as he battled through the pack.
Brookes battled with Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty and Buildbase BMW’s Barry Burrell for most of the race, but the penultimate Superbike race of the year was not without some drama.
On lap one four bikes went down after Druids, that involved Quattro Plant Kawasaki Karl Harris, Splitlath Aprilia's Mark Aitchison, Supersonic BMW’s Patric Muff and MSS Bathams Kawasaki man Danny Buchan.
The safety car came out twice, the first time because of a GBmoto Racing Honda Tristian Palmer crash at Paddock Hill End on lap three, and a second time on lap 15 till lap 17 because of a crash involving Team WFR Honda’s James Westmoreland at Clearways. With this the race was extended by three laps, making it a 23 lap race.
Byrne led from the start, and rode a faultless ride and was able to take the win by Brookes by just over a second. But it was the race that WFR Honda Alex Lowes would have wanted to win, the rider who began the race on pole had to retire to the pits on lap 12 with a technical issue.
Laverty rounded off the podium in third place, but the race was Brookes' to loose as he had to get at least a second place to keep the British Superbike Championship alive. He had to wait till lap 21 where he overtook Burrell at Druids for that all- important second spot.
Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill finished in sixth, with team mate Noriyuki Haga two places behind in niinth. Brookes got the fastest lap of the race and will start race three on pole, but Byrne has a lead of 658 points followed by Brookes on 635, so the champion will be decided on the final race later this afternoon.
