Airwaves Ducati's Shane Byrne has taken his second British Superbike title this afternoon at Silverstone after Rizla Suzuki's Tom Sykes took himself and Leon Haslam out in the early laps.
Byrne, who first won the title in 2003, only had to cruise round behind team-mate Leon Camier and HM Plant Honda's Cal Crutchlow to wrap up the 2008 series trophy. Sykes has been called to race direction after the crash with Haslam, which happened at the Woodcote chicane on lap three.
The first incident occurred between Rob Mac Racing's Karl Harris, Hydrex Animal Honda James Ellison and Michael Rutter on the NW 200 Ducati.  All three riders bunched up side by side going into a corner with Rutter losing out and falling back two places.

In lap two Harris overshot a corner and rejoined at the back of the grid following some grass tracking.  He battled his was back up to seventh place by lap 17th, but was cruelly forced to retire with technical issues dismissing all his hard work.

Bryne was down the order riding up from eighth in front of his team mate until Camier overtook the championship leader and never looked back.

It was all breathtaking stuff as on lap three going into the chicane Sykes looked to have tried to move into second however came together with the then leader Haslam.  Full details of the incident are yet to be disclosed however both riders crashed out and rejoined at the back of the pack.

This gave Byrne a great opportunity with regards to clinching the championship title, Haslam finished 12th and Sykes 13th come the chequered flag, but the incident is to be investigated.

With the front runners out of the way this put Crutchlow into the lead followed by Relentless Suzuki runner Michael Laverty and Ellison in third until lap six.

It was all change again as Ellison highsided out of the chicane with which his bike then skittled into Laverty forcing him to the gravel.  The incident almost had another victim in the form of Michael Rutter who had to take evasive action to stay on.

Rutter continued a lonely ride in fourth as did Hawk Kawasaki rider Scott Smart before crashing on lap nine.  This allowed Airwaves Ducati boys to move to the front and Camier to take the lead keeping it to the finish line.

Replacement SMT rider Jason O'Halloran obtained his first top ten in only his second outing on the CBR1000.  Quay Honda Racing Gary Mason finished as the top cup rider in sixth after constantly battling with Lloyds British Simon Andrews who finished fifth.

The remaining podium cup positions were taken by STP rider Chris Burns who finished 15th and Martin Jessopp of Riders Racing in 17th.