MCE British Superbike Championship
Brands Hatch GP Circuit
Leeds, England
July 23, 2017
Race Two Results (All on Pirelli tires):
1. Shane Byrne, UK (Duc Panigale R), 20 laps, Total Race Time 28:36.034, Best Lap Time 1:25.109
2. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -5.787 seconds, 1:25.381
3. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW S1000RR), -6.167, 1:25.436
4. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW S1000RR), -8.039, 1:25.597
5. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -10.079, 1:25.594
6. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -10.530, 1:25.671
7. Jason O’Halloran, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -10.866, 1:25.746
8. Bradley Ray, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -13.246, 1:25.884
9. Michael Laverty, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -14.002, 1:25.848
10. Jake Dixon, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -14.983, 1:25.750
11. John Hopkins, USA (Duc Panigale R), -17.861, 1:25.934
12. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -30.857, 1:26.223
13. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), -30.890, 1:26.004
14. Glenn Irwin, UK (Duc Panigale R), -31.158, 1:26.538
15. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), -31.614, 1:26.438
16. Billy McConnell, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), -31.680, 1:26.275
17. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suz GSX-R1000), -32.772, 1:26.610
18. Andy Reid, UK (BMW S1000RR), -38.113, 1:26.736
19. Martin Jessop, UK (BMW S1000RR), -40.423, 1:26.955
20. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yam YZF-R1), -62.211, 1:27.184
21. James Westmoreland, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), -10 laps, DNF, 1:26.714
22. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), -12 laps, DNF, 1:24.873
23. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), -17 laps, DNF, 1:25.416
24. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yam YZF-R1), DNS
25. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), DNS
Championship Point Standings (after 12 of 26 races):
1. Byrne, 190 points
2. Mossey, 161
3. Haslam, 159
4. O’Halloran, 133
5. Brookes, 129
6. Hickman, 119
7. Iddon, 110
8. Dixon, 100
9. Ellison, 81
10. Linfoot, 80
12. Hopkins, 62
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Shakey crowned Monster Energy King of Brands Hatch to take championship lead
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne completed a dream double in front of a huge home crowd at Brands Hatch today (Sunday) to be crowned the Monster Energy King of Brands and with it take the lead in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings.
The two races on the legendary Grand Prix circuit produced five different podium finishers, representing five different manufacturers and five different teams with just seven races now remaining before the Showdown.
An incredible battle opened the day as Byrne denied Dan Linfoot his first ever MCE BSB victory as the Be Wiser Ducati rider stole the lead at Surtees with two laps to go before the race had a premature end due to changing conditions.
At the start of race one Luke Mossey had fired the JG Speedfit Kawasaki off the line to take the lead from pole sitter Josh Brookes and Linfoot. However a hectic opening few laps saw Brookes try and attack, but Mossey was keeping his cool as Byrne held station in sixth place.
On the fifth lap Byrne went for a move on Haslam at Surtees, but ran out wide and dropped back three places, giving himself more work to do. At the front Brookes had hit the lead, but Mossey was instantly fighting back and regained the position.
A big crash for Shaun Winfield caused the first BMW Safety Car deployment of the season, but the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha rider was able to walk away from the incident.
When the race resumed Peter Hickman instantly went for a move as did Linfoot and by the end of the next lap it was Linfoot leading the way from Mossey, Hickman, Leon Haslam and Brookes with Christian Iddon also in close contention.
Hickman waited two more laps before he got his opportunity to snatch the lead; moving ahead at Surtees to push Linfoot back into second place.
Linfoot was coming under pressure from Mossey as he dived down the inside at Paddock Hill Bend on the twelfth lap but the Honda Racing rider fought back and repaid the move into Druids to regain the position.
Hickman was still leading the pack for the Smiths Racing BMW team with Linfoot, Mossey, Haslam and Iddon hot on their heels as Brookes dropped back and was fighting off James Ellison and Byrne.
Linfoot regained the lead on lap 16 with a decisive move at Paddock Hill Bend, but the defending champion was on the move and he had worked his way up the order to take the lead at Surtees with two laps remaining. The red flag was then bought out when light rain began to fall, but it was enough for Byrne to claim the win.
Linfoot celebrated his first podium of the season for Honda Racing with Haslam returning to the podium for the first time since Oulton Park as he held off Hickman and Brookes.
The second race was shaping up to be a dogfight between the defending champion and Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Brookes with the pair hitting the front of the pack, and as the Australian hounded down his rival; he crashed out at Surtees on the ninth lap.
As Byrne edged ahead the battle behind was intensifying for third position as Ellison, Iddon, Haslam and Hickman traded blows in their quest for a podium finish. Ellison was upping the pace on the McAMS Yamaha and was able to hold off Iddon as the pair returned to the podium.
Hickman doubled up on fourth places for the Smiths Racing BMW team as he continues to hold the final place in the top six with three rounds remaining before the Showdown. Hicky had battled intensely with Haslam during the earlier stage of the race, but was able to forge ahead to leave the JG Speedfit Kawasaki riders battling for fifth with Haslam holding off Mossey and Jason O’Halloran.
Rookie Bradley Ray, Michael Laverty on the second of the McAMS Yamahas, and Jake Dixon completed the top ten.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race one result:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.365s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.737s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +0.795s
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +1.535s
James Ellison (McAMS Yamaha) +1.717s
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +2.102s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +3.631s
John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +3.708s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +3.792s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race two result:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
James Ellison (McAMS Yamaha) +5.787s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +6.167s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +8.039s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +10.079s
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +10.530s
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +10.866s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +13.246s
Michael Laverty (McAMS Yamaha) +14.002s
Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) +14.983s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 190
Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 161
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 159
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 133
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 129
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) 119
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne
Be Wiser Ducati
“The first race was a lot tougher than what I was hoping for but the safety car coming out did me a favour and I got going straightaway again.
!The bike had felt really good all weekend in the dry and we were able to prove that in the race so a big thank you to the team. The pace was even hotter in the second race and with a good start decided I had to get to the front as quickly as possible and go for it.
“Once I’d got the lead, I just tried to stay as consistent as possible and watched my pit board. I just kept my rhythm and concentration so to get the double is brilliant and we’re achieving just what we wanted to at our strong circuits.”