Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider Shane Byrne has won his third MCE British Superbike Championship, at the final race of the season at Brands Hatch this afternoon.
Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes led the race till the penultimate lap but could not hold off the advances from the Kawasaki rider. Byrne won all three Superbike races over the weekend to ensure his victory.
Brookes rode a solid race, but Byrne began to close the gap on the Australian on the fourteenth lap, by less than a second. Samsung Honda Michael Laverty was in third position for most of the race, until the final lap where there was a collision with WFR Honda’s Alex Lowes and both bikes ended up in the gravel, cementing an disappointing end to their season. And it will be a weekend that Lowes will want to forget, as he did not finish a single race at Brands Hatch.
With Laverty and Lowes crashing out, it made way for Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill to finish in third and taking the final podium spot, and Supersonic BMW Racing’s Tommy Bridewell coming across the line in fourth with Bary Burrel; fifth ahd James Westmoreland, who wraps up the Riders Cup, in sixth,
Byrne, who previously won in 2003 and 2008 can now add a third title to his list of accomplishments. Last years champion Tommy Hill could only manage third this year in the standings, with Brookes finishing in second place.
He said: "“I’m elated I’m ecstatic, this weekend has been an achievement in itself winning all three races. I was quite happy to sit there and let someone else lead for a change, and was able to use Josh as a reference… and fortunately those 20 laps have paid off and I am the champion. Next year, don’t know what we are going to do, I would like to have a massive party tonight, and start to make some plans.”
Brookes added: "After yesterday's race I was quite upset but I couldn’t have done more, now it’s all over and the final race has finished. I don’t think I could have done more, I rode the bike to the best of my ability. I come here to race and I enjoy racing, that why I signed for another year.”
Hill said: I have respect for all the riders out there and I know how hard it is – and last season it paid off and was in Shakey’s position last year. For me in reality it was difficult… it was always going to be an up hill struggle.
“The showdown for me has not gone the best, I feel a bit deflated because of my bad luck and the good start I had to the season.”
