Tyco Suzuki are celebrating their first MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race win of the season after Josh Brookes put in a hard-fought performance to be victorious on the Grand Prix circuit ahead of Alex Lowes. The pair had been pushing for the win over the final laps after defending champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne dramatically crashed out unhurt.
On the opening lap Byrne had taken the initial lead from Lowes and Brookes, but the Samsung Honda wasn't settling for second and hit the front of the field Graham Hill Bend. A lap later and the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider was pushed back to third by Brookes who moved ahead at Clearways and then had his sights set on Lowes.
The Australian made a move on Lowes just two laps later and he held the advantage but behind Byrne had dived ahead of his Samsung Honda rival for second with a move at Hawthorn on the eighth lap. At his home round Byrne then was targeting the lead, but still coming under pressure from Lowes who again made a move before they switched places again.
Byrne looked to make a move on Brookes with a determined move down the inside at Hawthorn but the front tucked from underneath him and he went crashing out of contention, although he was able to walk away from the stricken Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki.
That left Brookes and Lowes to fight it out for the win, but in the final laps it was the Australian who had the edge to be victorious and close down Byrne's points lead. The second Samsung Honda of Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed third but behind American PJ Jacobsen was able to score his best result of the season with a fifth place ahead of Jon Kirkham on the first of the Buildbase BMWs.
The pack behind were intensely fighting it out for seventh and Dan Linfoot came out on top for the Lloyds British GBmoto Honda team as he remained ahead of Keith Farmer and Howie Mainwaring. Bathams Honda's Michael Rutter completed the top ten after Milwaukee Yamaha's James Ellison and Chris Walker on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki both crashed out in the early stages of the race at Graham Hill Bend.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch Grand Prix, race one result:
1.Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki)2.Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.243s3.Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +8.268s4.James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +13.964s5.PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +18.343s6.Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +20.469s7.Dan Linfoot (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +24.515s8.Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +25.4279.Howie Mainwaring (MH Kawasaki) +25.528s10.Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) +26.176sMCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch GP race one: 1.Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2072.Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 1973.Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1954.James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1005.Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) 996.Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 91The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is a triple header round and takes place at Oulton Park on 9/10/11 August. Tickets are available in advance with children under 13 free. For more information and to book click here or call 0843 453 9000.
