Knockhill was packed to the rafters to witness reigning champion Shane “Shakey” Byrne celebrate a double win at the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship in Scotland
as he took the lead in the overall standings before dedicating his performance to his wife who underwent surgery on raceday.
The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider had bettered his own seven year old out right fastest lap to take pole position for the opening race but he was out-gunned at the start by Aussie Josh Brookes who led for Tyco Suzuki until closing stages.
Byrne and Brookes made contact before the reigning champion snatched the lead at the Hairpin, he then held off his Australian rival to take the victory. Byrne said: “My wife Petra called me five minutes before I went into that race to say sorry I can’t be with you, but get a good result and be safe. To hear her was magic and that fired me up and I really wanted to win the race for her.”
Brookes took second ahead of the rejuventated Ryuichi Kiyonari, returning refreshed from time back home in Japan to take his first podium of the season. It was consolation for the Samsung Honda team who had seen Alex Lowes crash out of contention at half distance.
Despite starting from the second row, Byrne made a stunning start to take the lead into the first corner of the second race and control the race from the front, reacting strongly in the closing stages as Brookes threatened to close him down.
Byrne took his sixth victory of the season, while Kiyonari was showing the form that had taken him three times to the MCE BSB crown as he again took third place, ahead of his team-mate Lowes.
The podium for both races represented the international talent in the Championship with Britain, Australia and Japan locking out the top three positions.
Results
Race one:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +1.069s
3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +5.013s
4: Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +16.821s
5: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +19.033s
6: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +23.733s
Race two:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.814s
3: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +8.637s
4: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +12.723s
5: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +15.620s
6: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +19.802s
Championship standings
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 166
2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 136
3: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 130
4: James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 80
5: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 76
6: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 65
