Josh Brookes returned to the top step of the podium in the second MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Silverstone to extend his advantage at the top of the standings ahead of the triple-header final round at Brands Hatch (16-18 October).
On the opening lap Shane 'Shakey' Byrne hit the front of the pack from his pole position ahead of Dan Linfoot and Peter Hickman with James Ellison also in close contention. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider was instantly on the attack and first passed Hickman and then Linfoot within the space of four corners. Ellison then tried to do the same to Byrne, but the defending champion forced his way back ahead but he then made a move that stuck to lead the third lap.
Brookes had started from the second row and he was picking off his rivals throughout the opening laps, holding sixth on the same lap but by two laps later he had moved through to fourth and then made a move on both Linfoot and Byrne to move from fourth to second.
The Australian contender then dived ahead of race leader Ellison on the run through Maggotts to Becketts whilst Linfoot also had moved up to second ahead of the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider with Laverty, Byrne and Iddon in the same group.
Brookes was moving ahead as Ellison dramatically dropped down the order with a grip problem to end the race outside the points in 17th place. Linfoot and Laverty were exchanging blows for second place but the Honda Racing rider had the initial edge until the penultimate lap when the pair traded position three times in as many corners but the Tyco BMW emerged ahead and held off Linfoot to the line on the final lap.
Iddon celebrated his best performance of the season in fourth place for Bennetts Suzuki, snatching the position away from defending champion Byrne on the final lap as the PBM Kawasaki rider struggled over the final laps of the race.
Richard Cooper won his battle with Peter Hickman for seventh position with Lee Jackson and Luke Mossey completing the top ten which featured five different manufacturers and nine different teams.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, race two result:1.Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)2.Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +3.568s3.Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +3.748s4.Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) +5.050s5.Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +5.463s6.Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +8.158s7.Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +8.507s8.Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +9.690s9.Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +9.884s10.Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +13.965s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Silverstone:1.Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 6532.Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 6063.James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 5734.Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 5535.Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 5346.Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 531
The final round of the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch.
