Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne hangs on to the MCE British Superbike championship by a mere 12 points after he won the opening race at Silverstone, but missed out on 25 points to his main title challenger, Bbuildbase BMW's Ryuichi Kiyonari.

In the opening race Byrne and Kiyo were tyre-to-tyre and the fight for the win went down to the final race on the last lap. But in the end it was 37-year-old Byrne who ultimately came out on top to record his 59th BSB career win.

It was a case of déjà-vu in the second race, but this time Byrne sat behind the Japanese rider until the closing stages. He tired to make his move at Becketts, but he was unable to make it stick and Kiyonari took the narrow win to claw back the five points he'd earlier lost and to maintain the 12 point gap between the two riders going into the final round at Brands Hatch in two weeks' time.

“The first race was so much fun but it was hard work battling with Kiyo and Josh and exactly what we needed after Assen. Kiyo's been incredibly strong this weekend and with Josh in the mix too, there was a lot of overtaking going on,” said Byrne.

“I had a slight moment on the final lap, and then Kiyo had one too, but I braked slightly later at the end of the straight and held on for the win. The second race was equally good fun and to get first and second in races like that is no bad thing.

“We were both on the limit and I had a plan but the race was quicker than the first one and the margins of reserve not as great so when I had a little slide on the last lap, I just couldn't quite make the move I wanted. Fair play to Kiyo, he held on for the win and we now go to the final round at Brands Hatch where I'm sure there'll be more of the same."

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