HM Plant Honda's Shane 'Shakey' Byrne scored his third victory of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in the second race at Thruxton to maintain his championship lead ahead of Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins who scored a podium finish after a hard-fought race.

Byrne said: "After the first race I was desperate to get to the front and just ride my own race. I was smoother and the HM Plant Honda was on rails so I couldn't have been happier. The track was quite grippy but once I got to the front I was comfortable and in a rhythm. I think I could have even gone faster if I pushed a bit but a great weekend and all credit to the team. I can't wait for Knockhill now!"

Michael Rutter fired the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati off the line on the opening lap, but Byrne stole the lead at Segrave to put the HM Plant Honda back at the front of the field as 'Blade' dropped to third by the second lap. The championship leader then was edging out an advantage as the pack diced for the final podium positions.

Peter Hickman had moved second at Cobb on the opening lap ahead of Samsung Crescent Racing's John Hopkins as Rutter also moved ahead of the American to drop him back to fourth by the start of the third lap.

Alex Lowes on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki had worked his way up to fifth by the fourth lap, making a move on Michael Laverty and then Rutter at Segrave and Church respectively to move third. Lowes' podium aspirations were ended early when he crashed out of second place on the exit of the Club Chicane uninjured.

Hickman and Rutter were then dicing for second place and on the tenth lap Rutter went ahead at Noble but the Tyco Honda went back ahead on the brakes into the Club Chicane. The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati rider was fighting back, but he then high-sided out of the race on penultimate lap at Church uninjured.

Byrne was controlling the race from the front as Hickman then settled into second place on the final lap whilst Hopkins made a move on Linfoot to move third and secure his fifth podium finish of the season at the team's home track. Linfoot was then relegated to fifth on the final run into the Club Chicane as Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill, who had worked his way up from outside the top ten on the opening lap, took the advantage.

Josh Brookes finished sixth on the Relentless Suzuki ahead of race one winner Michael Laverty whilst Chris Walker took his second top ten finish of the day for the Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki team in eighth ahead of Jon Kirkham. The lone Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati of Martin Jessopp took tenth place edging out Motorpoint Yamaha's Loris Baz.

Barry Burrell doubled up in the Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo Championship ahead of Glen Richards and Simon Andrews.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, race two result:

1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda)2.Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +10.618s3.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +15.527s4.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +16.980s5.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +17.128s6.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +17.983s7.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +22.967s8.Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +26.881s9.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +32.415s10.Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +34.864s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Thruxton:

1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 1362.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) 1213.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 894.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 705.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 696.Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) 68