Shane Byrne took his second MCE British Superbike race win at Knockhill today in clinical fashion. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider, who has had a helicopter on standby all weekend in case he needed to rush away to wife, Petra’s bedside in hospital; held off a last lap challenge from Josh Brookes to claim his 7th win at Knockhill.
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Byrne was imperious from the off, launching himself from the second row of the grid to take the lead into the opening corner. Byrne then rattled off a series of consistent laps to build a sizable advantage over Tyco Suzuki rider Josh Brookes. Mid race, buoyed by a podium in the opening race, Ryuichi Kiyonari passed his stable-mate, Alex Lowes, into SEAT Curve to keep his progressive form on track.
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With 10 laps remaining, Josh Brookes began to find some rythem and started to make in-roads into Byrne’s lead. Byrne later admitted that his tyres were beginning to go off and he was just trying to cross the line in the slowest possible time. Brookes continued his charge and secured the Steve Hislop ‘Flying Haggis’ Trophy for his fastest lap of the weekend, on the penultimate lap of the race. The Tyco Suzuki man, even endured a massive moment at the newly rebranded Arnold Clark Chicane before crossing the line just 0.5secs behind Byrne.
“I’m happy with the race, we still have issues with the bike, but we need to keep the progression going for the next round,” said Kiyonari.
Second place man, Josh Brookes had this to say:
“I got a bit disheartened in that race, l began to change my line at the chicane and l seemed to make up some time through there. I could see l was reeling Shakey in and that just spurred me on. Once l clipped the chicane on the final lap, l knew that was it. I just need to keep performing and stop the pattern of Shane winning everything.”
“I got good a really good start, tried to keep in the 48 second lap times; but my tyres dropped off mid way through the race. I was very calculated towards the end and did enough to cross the line. Both those wins are for Petra, l’m just looking forward to getting home now,” concluded Byrne.
Michael Robertson taking National Superstock 600 victory
In a terrific day of bike racing, TT Sidecar winner Tim Reeves and his passenger took two wins in the Eastern Airways Sidecar Championship. Knockhill mechanic Ralph Pryde passengered Roger Lovelock to a fifth place finish; after Lovelock lost three passengers over the weekend. Danderhall’s Michael Robertson took a sensational National Superstock 600 win on his home track; and, Stuart Easton backed up his podium score from yesterday by securing a second place finish in the Motorpoint Supersport race. Tristan Palmer, fresh from his test at Knockhill two weeks ago, rode his new Ducati Panigale to victory in the National Superstock 1000 series. Cathal Laverty scored a brace of wins in the KMSC Superstock 600 Championship and Motostar duo Jordan Weaving and Joe Irving finished the week, where they had started off; on the podium.
That concludes another superb bike race meeting at Knockhill. Thanks for everyone’s support and thanks for the many race fans that made the trip to SUNNY Scotland from all over the UK this weekend.
Get all the latest reaction from the MCE British Superbike Championship at Knockhill via the their official website!