Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne took a brace of runner-up placings at round nine of the series at Donington Park which sees the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R rider head into the final three-round Showdown with a six-point advantage over rival Alex Lowes.

Having qualified in fourth place which was the first time he'd been off the front row all season, Shakey, from Sittingbourne, and the Penrith-based PBM team made considerable changes to the suspension for today's first 20-lap race and it was clear they were the right ones as he immediately slotted into second place behind Lowes.

The duo, along with James Ellison, were never more than a few feet apart but positions remained the same throughout and so Shakey took a strong second at the chequered flag, just behind Lowes which netted him two more valuable podium credits.

For the second race later in the day, it was an even closer affair with Shakey, Lowes, Ellison, Tommy Bridewell, James Westmoreland and Josh Brookes separated by just over a second in the early stages. As the race entered its final third, it became a battle between Shakey and Lowes once more and on the last lap the three-time MCE BSB champion hit the front for the first time. However, try as he might with a couple of moves on the last lap, Byrne couldn't quite box off the victory so again settled for a safe second place.

Team-mate Keith Farmer had been running well during free practice aboard the Minxflix supported Paul Bird Motorsport Kawasaki ZX-10R but a heavy spill at Starkeys Bridge during the second part of qualifying left him down in 18th on the grid. With the Clogher rider sadly having picked up a number of injuries, he reluctantly had to withdraw from the two races thus ending his hopes of reaching the Showdown.

Shane Byrne: "Full credit to the team and K-tech for the changes they made to the suspension prior to the races as they really paid dividends and I was able to lap quicker in the races than I had done all weekend. I was planning my move on Alex on the last lap but I found a neutral instead of fourth gear on the exit of Coppice so I couldn't try the inside going into the Esses. No excuses though, Alex rode an incredible race. The result got us back in the window for the second race and I knew what I needed to do although it was again a tough battle. I did everything I could to get the win and although I'm never happy to finish second, this weekend's second places were as good as a win. Going into the Showdown, I have just a six point lead but we'll keep doing what we're doing and treat each weekend the same."

Keith Farmer: "It's hugely disappointing having had to pull out of the two races but due to a haematoma at the top of my hamstring, it wasn't possible for me to sit on the bike properly. It was a struggle just walking and it's almost a carbon copy of the crash and injury earlier in the year as the bike fell on me in the crash. I've been battling a viral infection too so am feeling very second hand and it's a weekend I just want to forget. Hopefully, I'll bounce back, get back to full fitness and health and look to end the year on a positive note."

Paul Bird, Team Owner: "Shakey did OK today but a win in the second race would have been better as Alex has won four races on the trot now and he has the momentum going into the Showdown. But with wins comes pressure and we know what we need to do so we are confident of building on our championship lead. We need to assess Keith's fitness over the next week or so as he's been really struggling lately so we will take a decision prior to Assen as to whether he should ride or whether we need look at a substitute rider."

MCE British Superbike Championship Race 1 20 laps1 Alex Lowes (Honda)2 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)3 James Ellison (Yamaha)4 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)5 James Westmoreland (BMW)6 Jon Kirkham (BMW)DNS Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

MCE British Superbike Championship Race 2 20 laps1 Alex Lowes (Honda)2 Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)3 Tommy Bridewell (Kawasaki)4 James Westmoreland (BMW)5 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)6 James Ellison (Yamaha)DNS Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

Championship Standings (after nine rounds)1 Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 539pts2 Lowes 5333 Brookes 5224 Ellison 5135 Kiyonari 5046 Westmoreland 50011 Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 93