HM Plant Honda’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne secured his first race win since Thruxton at Brands Hatch this afternoon as he fended off MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship rival Tommy Hill on the Swan Yamaha at the pair’s home circuit. Byrne said: “If anyone had an idea on how tough it had been so far this weekend then they would know how much this win means for myself and the HM Plant Honda team. Yesterday we had drama after drama and it was just one of those days but we were on the front row for the race which was the main thing. Tommy and I had a great battle and it was very similar to the first round we had here. We both stayed up which was the main thing as we were a bit on the edge at times. I am sure all three of us will be fighting it out in race three.” On the opening lap Hill got off to a flying start from the pole position to lead into Paddock Hill Bend from Joan Lascorz, Michael Rutter and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne. The Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati rider stole second place into Paddock Hill Bend and the move saw Lascorz run wide giving Byrne the chance to move through to third on the run to Druids on the second lap. Hill was still leading the chasing pack but on the third lap John Hopkins began to move up the field, passing Lascorz at Hawthorn Bend to move fourth and tuck in behind title rivals Hill, Rutter and Byrne. The HM Plant Honda standings leader made a move on Rutter a lap later at Druids to elevate himself up to second and he began piling the pressure on Hill. Byrne made several attempts to take the lead, but it wasn’t until lap six that he was able to put a move on his Swan Yamaha rival, with a determined pass up the inside at Surtees to take the lead from Hill, Rutter and Hopkins. Hill was then looking to make a return attack and it looked like he would make it stick on the tenth lap on the run into Hawthorn Bend, but Byrne held the position. A few laps later and Hill dived down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend on the brakes, but ran wide alongside Byrne and the pair cut it back on the run up to Druids with Byrne able to retake the lead. The HM Plant Honda rider withstood the pressure to take the win and move back ahead in terms of the all important Podium Credits with Hill claiming second and Hopkins third. Michael Laverty charged through from his fifth row start to claim fourth for the Swan Yamaha team after passing Rutter with four laps remaining as the Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati rider dropped to fifth in the closing laps. Yesterday’s race winner Josh Brookes finished sixth on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS after clawing his way up through the field. The Australian was running 13th by the end of the second lap but a determined race saw him lead an epic battle for sixth which ended with Lascorz in seventh and Martin Jessopp in eighth after he made a last lap move on Kirkham. Peter Hickman was also in the dice and he ended tenth for Tyco Honda. The Mirrror.co.uk BSB Evo race was won again by Graeme Gowland on the WFR Honda who had another impressive race ahead of Glen Richards and Barry Burrell. MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch GP, race two result: 1. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 2. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.580s 3. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +1.853s 4. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.016s 5. Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +6.891s 6. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +14.036s 7. Joan Lascorz (Kawasaki World Superbike) +17.006s 8. Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +17.175s 9. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +17.180s 10. Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +17.375s MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch race two: 1. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 239 2. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 211 3. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 185 4. Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) 150 5. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 146 6. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 125