Josh Brookes was victorious in the final MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the season, but there was high drama all the way to the finish as standings leader Leon Haslam crashed out of contention, as Shane 'Shakey' Byrne successfully defended the title for the first time.
On the opening lap James Ellison led the pack from Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty with Brookes, Byrne and Haslam in close contention. Iddon took the lead for Tyco BMW on the second lap briefly at Paddock Hill Bend but then Ellison reclaimed the position at Druids.
The pair swapped places at the front of the field with Michael Laverty moving into third place, but Brookes was on the attack and he soon moved to second by the sixth lap with some determined moves as he fought until the bitter end for a second title.
There was disaster for Haslam though on lap six when he suffered brake failure on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki and was forced to jump off at 172mph at Hawthorns, he sustained a broken left ankle, right wrist and right thumb. He returned to the grid for the championship celebrations to congratulate Byrne on his title victory before heading to the medical centre.
Haslam’s crash caused a Safety Car intervention and the pack formed up with Iddon leading Brookes, Laverty, Ellison, Byrne, Jason O'Halloran and Dan Linfoot. When the race resumed the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha hit the front of the field as Brookes stormed ahead into Paddock Hill Bend.
Brookes held the advantage at the front but he had to defend hard as the positions constantly shuffled with Laverty holding second until Ellison made a move and then O’Halloran carved his way through for Honda Racing.
O’Halloran made it an Australian one-two with Ellison holding off Laverty and Iddon for the final podium finish ahead of an incredibly close battle between Peter Hickman and Dan Linfoot who held off Byrne in eighth place.
Bradley Ray and Richard Cooper completed the final top ten of the season.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race three result:
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha)
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.687s
James Ellison (McAMS Yamaha) +0.857s
Michael Laverty (McAMS Yamaha) +1.929s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +2.144s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +5.254s
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +5.281s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +6.512s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +6.923s
Richard Cooper (Bennetts Suzuki) +7.628s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 637
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 634
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 631
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 578
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 567
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) 562
