Shane 'Shakey' Byrne has become the fifth different winner in the 2016 MCE British Superbike Championship as the home hero claimed victory in the second race at Brands Hatch after a fierce fight to the finish with Richard Cooper and Leon Haslam, who now holds a three point lead in the standings.
As the pack streamed into Paddock Hill Bend for the first time Luke Mossey and James Ellison headed the pack, with Byrne getting a better start than in the opening race and he slotted into eighth place on the Be Wiser Ducati.
Ellison determined to secure his first win of the season was pushing Mossey for the lead, making a move on the fourth lap at Paddock Hill Bend, but the Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki rider was instantly on the comeback, regaining the position at Druids. Ellison repeated the move just three laps later but Mossey again repaid the move just a corner later as the pair were also having to defend hard from Cooper and Haslam.
The Nissan GT-R Safety Car was deployed on the ninth lap when Michael Laverty’s Tyco BMW smoked heavily and he was forced to retire just as Ellison had taken the lead at Graham Hill Bend with Cooper also pushing Mossey back to third.
It was disappointment again for Ellison though when he was forced out of the race just a few laps later with a technical problem, but Haslam then flew the flag for the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team. He made a move on Mossey at Paddock Hill, but again Mossey was strong into Druids to regain the place. Haslam fought back hard and moved into second as the final fight began.
Byrne was on the move though and in the closing stages was the fastest rider on track; he made a move on Mossey at Clearways with nine laps remaining and then repeated the move on Haslam leaving Cooper in his sights.
A lap later and the Byrne Clearways master class had another showing; passing Cooper on the inside and he then held on to take the first win for Be Wiser Ducati ahead of Cooper and Haslam with Tommy Bridewell and Dan Linfoot completing a top five representing five different manufacturers.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race two:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +0.554sLeon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +1.778sTommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +2.549sDan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +2.892sJason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +3.616sChristian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +4.012sPeter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +4.410sStuart Easton (ePayMe Yamaha) +7.539sLuke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +9.465sMCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch:
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 93Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 90Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 86Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) 74Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 66Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 62
