HM Plant Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari took advanage of a last-lap coming together by John Hopkins and Shane Byrne to take the second British Superbike race win at Snetterton this afternoon with former team-mate Josh Brookes snatching second away from the American.
Hopkins put a move on Byrne for the lead as they went into Williams for the final time and the 2008 BSB champion had nowhere to go but onto the grass. The Samsung Suzuki man stayed on track but Brookes took advantage as they exited the Bombhole, grabbing second. Hopkins had to settle for the final podium spot while Byrne will no doubt be swearing into his lid.
The race had been red-flagged after Simon Andrews and Steve Brogan crashed on oil from Alex Lowes broken MSS Kawasaki. Andrews has broken his right tibia and fibula while Brogan has suffered a light soldier injury.
At the re-start, Hopkins got away with Brookes in second and Kiyonari in third while Byrne held a watching brief before going past his team-mate into turn three on the first lap with Michael Laverty in fifth.
Byrne then went underneath Brookes for second on the next lap and set off in pursuit of Hopkins while Kiyonari sat behind his former team-mate. With seven to go, Kiyonari was past and into third before Byrne found a way past Hopkins as they went into Coram for the penultimate time.
Brookes' 20 points means he is now in the Shwodown top six for the first time this year. Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill crashed unhurt in the first part of the race and couldn't make the re-start while Jon Kirkham also lobbed it with no injuries in the second part.
WFR Honda's Jake Zemke took the Evo class win with team-mate Glen Richards second and Barry Burrell third.
Championship points:
Shane Byrne 201
John Hopkins 182
Tommy Hill 140
Ryuichi Kiyonari 120
Michael Laverty 119
Josh Brookes 91
Evo Championship points:
Glen Richards 197
Simon Andrews 159
Barry Burrell 158
