MCE British Superbike Championship Thruxton Circuit, England April 14, 2014 Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 20 laps, 26:31.549 2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -0.301 second 2. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -0.663 4. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -6.415 seconds 5. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), -6.533 6. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -6.778 7. Karl Harris, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -8.464 8. Michael Rutter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -8.892 9. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -9.553 10. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), -9.817 11. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -16.309 12. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -20.950 13. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -22.773* 14. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -24.075 15. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), -24.111 16. Luke Quigley, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -24.499 17. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR), -26.427 18. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -31.980 19. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -32.109 20. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5 laps, DNF 21. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199R),-11 laps, DNF 22. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -14 laps, DNF 23. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -14 laps, DNF 24. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -16 laps, DNF 25. Josh Waters, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -20 laps, DNF

*includes five-second penalty for overtaking under safety car period

Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 13 laps 2. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -0.245 second 3. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -0.656 4. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), -0.757 5. Michael Rutter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -1.819 seconds 6. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1.908 7. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -2.173 8. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), -2.489 9. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), -3.274 10. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -3.810 11. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), -4.259 12. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), -5.256 13. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5.538 14. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), -6.642 15. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), -6.660* 16. Josh Waters, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -6.839 17. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -8.713 18. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -11.271 19. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -1 lap, DNF 20. Karl Harris, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -1 lap, DNF 21. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199R), -1 lap, DNF 22. Luke Quigley, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -5 laps, DNF 23. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -6 laps, DNF 24. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -7 laps, DNF 25. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR), -13 laps, DNF

*includes one-second penalty for overtaking under safety car period

British Superbike Championship Point Standings (after 4 races): 1. Byrne, 91 points 2. Lowes, 76 3. Brookes, 60 4. Ellison, 51 5. Kirkham, 42 6. Westmoreland, 27 7. TIE, Walker/Farmer, 26 9. Jacobsen, 23 10. Kiyonari, 21

Results for other American riders competing at Brands Hatch:

Tommy Aquino finished 10th out of 40 starters in 1000cc Superstock. Aquino, riding his WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R, srarted 23rd and finished 8.486 seconds behind the winner of the 10-lap race, David Johnson, who also rode a Kawasaki ZX-10R.

Jayson Uribe finished 18th out of 26 starters in the Monster Energy British Motostar race. Uribe, riding his Cresswell Racing Honda, finished 89.719 seconds behind race winner Tarran MacKenzie in the 14-lap race. MacKenzie rode a KTM.

Michael Corbino finished 25th out of 28 starters in the 12-lap Triumph Triple Challenge. The race was won by Chrissy Rouse. All competitors rode Triumph Daytona 675Rs.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

BYRNE BECOMES MOST SUCCESSFUL MCE BSB RIDER WITH SECOND ROUND DOUBLE WIN Race one result: 1:Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2:Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.301s 3:Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.663s 4:James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +6.415s 5:Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +6.533s 6 James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +6.778s Race two result: 1:Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 2:Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.245s 3:James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.656s 4:Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.757s 5:Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) +1.819s 6:Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +1.908 Championship standings after Thruxton: 1:Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 91 2:Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 76 3:Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 66 4:James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 51 5:Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 42 6:James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) 27 Report Shane “Shakey” Byrne became the most successful rider ever in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he completed a winning double at Thruxton to take his career victory tally to 44, one more than rival triple title winner Ryuichi Kiyonari. “Winning that second race was very important to me as I wanted to become the most successful rider in the championship but there was nothing easy about it,” said Byrne. “Alex Lowes was pushing me all of the way, but even though the race was red-flagged early I have done the double and that makes me a happy man.” The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider was always at the sharp-end of the action at the super-fast Hampshire circuit, though in the opening race he had to make a determined move on the final lap into the last corner to pass Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes who was relegated to second place. Byrne explained: “I had a bit of problem with the brake and the bike started to vibrate and I was a bit nervous and getting out of shape, but I got Josh back at the chicane and I then thought there is no way you are going to come past me again!” Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes, who had started from pole, took third place ahead of the Buildbase BMW duo of James Westmoreland and Jon Kirkham, whilst James Ellison fought back from a fifth row start to claim sixth as his team-mate Josh Waters had crashed out unhurt early on. Byrne again made a flying start in an incident-packed second race, which included two Safety Car interventions by the Nissan GT-R, the first of which came after Kiyonari crashed out on the opening lap, and then again as Lee Costello tumbled. The defending champion was leading as the race was stopped after an incident at the chicane involving Karl Harris and Tommy Bridewell, who sustained a leg injury.

For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:

Historic Double For Byrne At Thruxton

Reigning champion Shane Byrne and the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team’s quest to retain their MCE British Superbike Championship title continued in round two at Thruxton this weekend where Shakey claimed a double victory and in doing so became the most successful rider in BSB history.

Heavy rain at the Hampshire circuit meant the Datatag Extreme qualifying session was cancelled yesterday so with times taken from the combined free practice sessions, Byrne lined up in third on the grid for the opening race. The 36-year-old triple BSB champion from Sittingbourne immediately slotted into second place before hitting the front a lap later where he was involved in a titanic battle with Josh Brookes and Alex Lowes and although he got pushed back to second on the final lap, he retaliated on the final corner to take a brilliant victory for the Penrith-based team.

Race two saw a series of safety car periods which disrupted the race and on each occasion it was just when Shakey was easing out a lead over the rest of the pack. The fragmented race was eventually stopped after 13 laps and with Byrne being awarded the win it made it a double for the weekend as he amassed 44 MCE BSB victories in total to better the 43 of Japanese ace Ryuichi Kiyonari who crashed out of the race.

For team-mate Keith Farmer, it was a mixed weekend as after qualifying in 12th on the grid; a superb start to the first race saw him running as high as second in the early stages. However, the 25-year-old from Clogher, County Tyrone ran wide along the start and finish on the seventh lap and crashed out fortunately without injury. With the second fastest lap of the race, the reigning National Superstock 1000cc champion was able to start from the second row for the second race and he made it count with sixth place which moved him back up to joint seventh overall in the standings.

Shane Byrne: “To come away with the double is superb and becoming the most successful rider in BSB just adds to that. I really wanted to put on a show in the second race but we just couldn’t get going as the safety car kept coming out every time I’d opened up a gap meaning it disappeared. We had a few problems in the first race with the front brake disc and suspension so I was relieved to get the win but everything was spot on in the second race. The pace was quicker and I felt more comfortable so all in all it’s a great start to the season.”

Keith Farmer: “To bounce back from the first race crash and get sixth in race two was very pleasing and it’s good to come away with another good result under my belt, particularly as I was suffering with a lot of chatter with the front end. The crash was my fault and I just ran slightly wide and touched the white line but other than a sore hand I was OK. I’ve learned a lot more with the bike and the changes we’ve made have been in the right direction whilst there’s plenty of people behind me who should be ahead so it’s good to get these first two rounds done and dusted.”

Paul Bird, Team Owner: “It’s always good to get a double and Shakey always looked in control. He’s made a great start to the season and we hope he can continue going into our home round at Oulton Park next month. Keith proved what a talent he is and it was unfortunate that he crashed out of the opening race but it’s all part of the learning process and he’ll just get better as the season progresses.”

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

ELLISON RETURNS TO THRUXTON PODIUM FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA

The Milwaukee Yamaha team returned to the podium in the second round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Thruxton today (Sunday) as James Ellison produced two stunning performances to secure a sixth place from his fifth row start and a third place in race two.

The qualifying session had been cancelled yesterday due to the weather conditions which left Ellison starting from seventeenth on the grid, whilst Australian Josh Waters started seventh. Waters was caught out on the opening lap, suffering a high-speed crash at Village which ended his chances whilst Ellison carved his way through the field to secure sixth place.

In race two Ellison started from the front row and was challenging with the leading group, however the race was red flagged due to an incident and a result declared but he was still able to return to the podium in third. Waters was suffering with a sore wrist after his crash, ending race two in sixteenth place.

Ellison said: “It is good to be on the podium again and I am happy to have ended this weekend with a result. It is a tough circuit, especially with no traction control, so it is all down to the throttle. It was a tough race but we battled on in the first one and salvaged some points and then managed to get a podium in race two after the issues we had at the start of the weekend. I need to thank the Milwaukee Yamaha team for working hard to fix the problem and it felt good to be able to pull the pin today.”

Waters said: “It has been a tough end to the weekend as it started ok for us despite not having much track time, but it was the same for everyone. The first race was really disappointing to have had a crash so early and I really banged my wrist so that made it even more difficult for the second one. I want to thank the guys in the Milwaukee Yamaha garage for their hard work and hopefully we can come back stronger at Oulton Park.”

Team owner Shaun Muir concluded: “The second round here at Thruxton was a mixed one for the Milwaukee Yamaha team. Josh had a difficult start with the changeable conditions and then the big crash in race one dented his confidence a bit and his wrist was very inflamed. However he is now really motivated to come back stronger at Oulton Park. James again this weekend showed his fighting spirit and showed his ability to bounce back from a dismal position that was down to the qualifying being cancelled on Saturday. This showed again just how much James wants to win this title; he was obviously disappointed that he didn’t get the chance to challenge Shakey for the win, which was definitely a possibility if the race had run to the end. We are now all looking forward to Oulton Park.”

For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com