Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Wildcard Byrne takes debut WSB win

British Superbike runaway points leader, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne took his first ever World Superbike win in front of an enthusiastic and partisan 120,000-strong crowd in race one at Brands Hatch.

Neil Hodgson fought off a determined challenge from countryman Chris Walker for second to complete the second all-Brit podium for the season.

Reynolds got the holeshot from Walker, Regis Laconi and Byrne. But Byrne had worked his way to second by lap four. Ruben Xaus was spectacular, regularly backing his 999 Ducati into the Druids hairpin.

Reynolds stayed with Byrne until lap twelve, when he raised his hand at the back of the circuit and pulled into the pits with a mechanical failure.

Xaus also suffered mechanically with smoke pouring from the engine on lap fifteen. He pulled out after seeing his pit board with the word ‘box’ on it as he crossed the line to start lap sixteen, obviously disappointed to be out of the race.

Byrne pulled a comfortable gap and waved to the crowd as he took a popular win.

“It hasn’t sunk in yet!” exclaimed an excited Byrne.

“John Reynolds really pulled the pin early in the race. I chased him and caught him, but each time I looked at my board it was plus zero, then suddenly it was plus four. I’m happy now, I could do with going home.”



World Superbike Race One Results:

1. Shane Byrne, Ducati 998F02, 25 laps, 36:25.400
2. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, -5.799 seconds
3. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, -5.938 seconds
4. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, -6.808 seconds
5. Sean Emmett, Ducati 998RS, -9.663 seconds
6. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, -9.926 seconds
7. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -10.370 seconds
8. Michael Rutter, Ducati 998F02, -32.485 seconds
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, -32.724 seconds
10. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -36.218 seconds
11. Dean Ellison, Ducati 996, -45.798 seconds
12. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, -52.302 seconds
13. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -53.241 seconds
14. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, -54.176 seconds
15. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, -69.534 seconds
16. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1, -71.592 seconds
17. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, -90.467 seconds
18. Giancarlo De Matteis, Ducati 998RS, -1 lap
19. Luca Pedersoli, Ducati 998RS, -1 lap
20. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, -3 laps, DNF
21. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, -10 laps, DNF
22. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, -12 laps, DNF
23. Leon Haslam, Ducati 998RS, -12 laps, DNF
24. John Reynolds, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -14 laps , DNF
25. Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, -14 laps, DNF
26. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, -16 laps, DNF
27. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, -16 laps, DNF
28. Nick Medd, Ducati 998RS, -18 laps, DNF
29. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, -22 laps, DNF

Fastest Lap: Shane Byrne, 1:26.755


More, from a press release issued by HM Plant Ducati:

Walker on top form at Brands

Chris Walker made it two podiums from the last two races when he scorched to a hard earned third place finish in race one at Brands Hatch. The HM Plant Ducati rider underlined his return to form with a spectacular battling display to join race winner Shane Byrne and Neil Hodgson on an all-British podium – much to the delight of the 120,000-strong crowd.

Walker got a good start to maintain his grid position of second and tucked in behind early race leader John Reynolds. However, wild card rider and runaway British Superbike Championship leader Byrne was a man on a mission and quickly forced his way past the pair and disappeared into the distance. Reynolds was the only other rider able to keep the pressure on Byrne and when he retired with mechanical problems – followed a little later by Ruben Xaus – Walker looked set for a second place finish.

Despite eventually being overtaken by Hodgson, the HM Plant Ducati rider kept second place in his sights right to the last, doggedly harrying the factory Ducati ace all the way to the line. The old rivals had the frantic British crowd on its feet as they diced all the way around the legendary GP circuit, with Hodgson eventually winning the drag to the line.

“There’s just something about Brands Hatch that makes every single second of the race special,” said Walker. “I really enjoyed scrapping with Neil too – each of us had sections of the track where we were faster than the other, but when I tried to get back past him at the end my rear tyre was spinning like mad and I had to settle for third. It feels great to be back on the podium at Brands and I’m really glad that we’ve still got another race to go.”

Things didn’t exactly go to plan for Walker’s team-mate James Toseland, who finished the race in sixth place. After losing out when the speeding pack barreled into Paddock Hill bend for the first time, he put on a determined show to claw back places and emerged victorious from an epic race-long battle with Gregorio Lavilla. The 22-year-old Yorkshireman refused to give up and was closing on wild card rider Sean Emmett for fifth place when the pair passed the chequered flag.

“I got a good start but then got boxed in on the first turn,” said Toseland. “The problem with starting on the inside of the grid at this track is that riders can blast by on the outside and block you into the turn. In the end it’s my fault because I didn’t qualify properly. But on the other hand, I beat my nearest championship rival, and the guy ahead of me in the points didn’t finish the race, so it’s not such a bad result. I was feeling pretty comfortable once I got past the riders that were holding me up and I’m hopeful of a better result in the next one.”



More, from Monstermob Ducati:

BYRNE BLASTS TO RACE ONE WIN AT BRANDS

British Superbike Championship leader Shane Byrne produced one of the performances of his life to take his debut win in the World Superbike Championship with a superb victory in the opening race at Brands Hatch today.

The 26-year-old from the Isle of Sheppey blasted from the front row to hit the front in the early stages as he and BSB rival John Reynolds pulled clear of the series regulars. Byrne took the lead and immediately pulled out a gap before Reynolds went out leaving ‘Shakey’ with a three-second lead.

Courtesy of a new lap record, Byrne piled on the pressure to increase his lead as series leader Neil Hodgson and fellow FO2 rider Chris Walker battled for the remaining rostrum places.

To the cheers of the 100,000 plus crowd, local boy Byrne ended up seven seconds to the good to claim his and the Paul Bird Motorsport team’s first ever World Championship victory in readiness for a full season in WSB next year.

“I can’t believe it, this is unreal. I just kept my head down and saw that I had a half second lead and then the next thing, it was three seconds and it kept going up from there. I saw I was catching James Haydon in the final laps and it must have distracted me as I nearly ran off the track but what a feeling, I’m absolutely made up” said Byrne.

Team owner Paul Bird was naturally elated at his team’s performance: “I’m going to remember this day for the rest of my life. What a superb result and all we have to do now is repeat that in the second race” said the Cumbrian Businessman.