Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne continued his winning momentum in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Knockhill as the defending champion held off fierce opposition with the top four riders covered by 0.952s.
Stuart Easton had taken the initial lead on the opening lap as he bid for success at his home round, but Byrne was instantly on the attack and took the lead at the Hairpin for the first time. On the opening lap Filip Backlund had crashed out and with debris on the track the Nissan GT-R Safety Car was deployed and the pack bunched up behind ready for a restart three laps later.
When the race resumed Byrne held his advantage but Easton was pushing for a move, meanwhile the race was over early for Dan Linfoot when he crashed his Honda Racing Fireblade at turn seven without injury.
The Australian contenders began to scrap over the opening laps with Jason O’Halloran on the second Honda Racing machine and Josh Brookes switching positions, with the Milwaukee Yamaha rider holding the advantage.
The pair were trying to edge away from the chasing pack including James Ellison and Ryuichi Kiyonari, but the pair crashed out in separate incidents at turn seven with both riders able to walk away from the incidents.
Michael Laverty was then closing down on the leading four riders onboard his Tyco BMW and he made a move on O’Halloran with ten laps remaining at the Hairpin and then had Brookes in his sights. The Tyco BMW rider was shadowing Brookes and then went for a move up the inside at the Hairpin a few laps later and then was targeting the PBM Kawasakis ahead of him.
Laverty made a move on Easton with three laps remaining and held the position, but didn’t have enough to close down Byrne, but held off Easton to score his first podium finish of the season ahead of the Scot in third.
Brookes held fourth ahead of O’Halloran with Danny Buchan who scored his best result of the season in sixth on the lone Be Wiser Kawasaki with Tommy Bridewell and Luke Mossey back inside the top ten. James Ellison and Peter Hickman had a race-long battle to complete the top ten.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, race one result:
- Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
- Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.345s
- Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +0.495s
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.952s
- Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +3.657s
- Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +5.360s
- Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +9.178s
- Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +10.305s
- James Westmoreland (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +12.896s
- Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +13.217s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Knockhill race one:
- Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 176
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 147
- James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 118
- Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) 115
- Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 86
- Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 85
Source: BSB Official Website
