Title glory for Shane Byrne race wins for Camier and Haslam BENNETTS BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Penultimate round Sunday 28 September Silverstone Shane Byrne sealed Bennetts British Superbike title glory with a comfortable ride into third place in a dramatic, incident packed opening race of the penultimate round at Silverstone. The Airwaves Ducati rider had begun the race knowing that a top nine finish would suffice to see him regain the crown he had first held won back in 2003 and Byrne was running eighth as the first of two telling incidents unfolded into front of him. Leon Haslam, the HM Plant Honda rider who had started with an outside chance of edging out Byrne in the title stakes, was sent tumbling at the chicane as Tom Sykes clattered into him, with the Rizla Suzuki later penalised for careless riding. Then a further two laps on James Ellison and Michael Laverty tangled at the same Woodcote section and Byrne was upto third: “I thought to myself, good result. All of that happening put me up to third and I was in a position to think about going for the win. “It was all about keeping it safe, keeping my concentration and not doing anything silly I said to myself you’ve got a podium finish, you’ve got the title, stay as you are.” Byrne did just that as his team-mate Leon Camier took his third victory of the campaign, ahead of HM Plant Honda rider Cal Crutchlow, prompting celebrations by the champion. “Words can’t describe what this all means to me it is bigger for me than the first time that I won the title. This repays the team for their faith in me and this has paid everything back and thanks my sponsors. “This success is dedicated to my dad Pete who died a month before the season started I hope that he is up there smiling down on me he backed me so much.” Byrne had hoped to celebrate his success with a ninth victory of the season, but Haslam, eager to set the record straight after his earlier demise set a furious pace at the head of the pack, romping to his fifth win in seven races by some four seconds. “I felt confident and after the first race disappointment went for it the lads just said to me get out front and clear of the rest, and I did,” explained Haslam who consolidated his second place in the overall rankings. Byrne came in second and praised his rival: “Leon rode a fantastic race and although I got into second quickly he was a bit too far ahead even though I pushed hard, but I’m happy enough with another podium finish.” Third place went to Rizla Suzuki rider Sykes who had overcome being demoted 12 places on the grid for his earlier indiscretion with a hard charging ride through the pack to finish ahead of Camier, Karl Harris, Ellison and Michael Rutter. Glen Richards had to settle for fourth place in the Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport race but that was sufficient to give him the title. Hudson Kennaugh took the victory ahead of Paul Young and Steve Plater, while Craig Fitzpatrick with another class victory secured the Supersport Cup crown. Jon Kirkham sealed the Henderson Yamaha R1 Cup title with his eighth victory of the season and although the Derby rider also finished first in the Metzeler Superstock 1000 Championship race, the title was taken by second on the road Steve Brogan. Results round eleven, Bennetts British Superbike Championship Race one 20 laps 1. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 29m 02.806secs 2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.090s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +8.904s 4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +18.889s 5. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +27.739s 6. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +31.363s 7. Tristan Palmer (TENA for Men Honda) +32.068s 8. Jason O’Halloran (SMT Honda) +32.204s 9. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +34.524s 10. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +37.884s Race two 20 laps 1. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 28m 59.106secs 2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +3.786s 3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +5.455s 4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +5.809s 5. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +7.171s 6. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +16.061s 7. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +17.097s 8. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Yamaha) +24.901s 9. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +26.109s 10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +30.736s Championship standings: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 424 2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 323 3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 306 4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 285 5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 279 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes started from 17th and sensationally fought his way to third by the chequered flag in the second race of the 11th round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Silverstone in Northamptonshire today. In warm dry conditions Sykes cut through the pack of riders in front of him like a knife through hot butter and moved into third place with just a handful of laps remaining. He was too far behind the top two to challenge but kept his cool to score a well-deserved rostrum whereas team mate Atsushi Watanabe did not finish. The race was won by Honda’s Leon Haslam. In the opening race Sykes got a typical excellent start from fifth and slotted into third place, menacing the riders in front of him. On the third lap it all came to an early end after an ambitious over-take for second place ended with him clashing with race leader Haslam with both crashing unhurt. Sykes went on to finish 13th after remounting but was later disqualified and penalised 12-places on the grid for the second race after a judicial decision from the organisers. Watanabe, starting from 17th, finished an encouraging 10th. Ducati’s Shane Byrne finished third in the opening race to seal his second British Superbike Championship. Rizla Suzuki is in action again in two week’s time at the final round of the British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch Indy circuit in Kent. Tom Sykes: “I am really happy to have delivered another podium to Rizla Suzuki. Race two was never going to be easy starting from 17th but I was determined to come through. It was a little too much to give away to go for the win but the podium is a just reward for the team. “In the first race I wanted to go for the win and on lap three I made a pass which didn’t work out. I was forced wide and hit Leon Haslam. The organisers penalised me. I won’t be dwelling on it and I am looking forward to the last round and seeing if I can get second in the Championship for Rizla Suzuki.” Atsushi Watanabe: “Race one was OK, I had a decent result with 10th place. I have some good feel for my Rizla Suzuki and like the Silverstone circuit as it is like Japanese tracks. “Race two was not so good: My brakes feel inconsistent and after lap 12, I think maybe I should pull in to the pits. I am not happy but will be doing my best to end the season with good results at Brands Hatch.” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “For Tom to make up 14 places from his start position in race two is simply incredible; there are not many riders capable of doing that. It would have been great to see; how he could have fared if he had started from his normal grid position as I am sure he would have diced with Leon Haslam for the victory. “Race one for Tom was a disappointment. It was early on when he collided with Leon and that effectively ended his chance for success. The penalty imposed by the Clerk of the Course was difficult to argue against and Tom took it on the chin, which is credit to him. “We had high hopes for Atsu this weekend but the results did not come for him. He has another chance at Brands Hatch to show what he is made off in two week’s time. “We are looking forward to the final round and hopefully we can challenge Leon for second in the Championship. On behalf of Rizla Suzuki I would like to congratulate Shane Byrne on taking the Championship today – he’s a worthy winner.” Race one result: 1: Leon Camier (Ducati) 29:02.806 2: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +1.090 3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +8.904 4: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +18.889 5: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +27.739 6: Gary Mason (Honda) +31.363 7: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +32.068 8: Jason O’Halloran (Honda) +32.204 9: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +34.524 10: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +37.884 DSQ: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) Race two result: 1: Leon Haslam (Honda) 28:59.106 2: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +3.786 3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +5.455 4: Leon Camier (Ducati) +5.809 5: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +7.171 6: James Ellison (Honda) +16.061 7: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +17.097 8: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +24.901 9: Gary Mason (Honda) +26.109 10: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +30.736 DNF: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) Championship Standings (after round 11 of 12): 1: Shane Byrne 424 2: Leon Haslam 323 3: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 306 4: Cal Crutchlow 285 5: Leon Camier 279 6: Michael Rutter 237 7: James Ellison 203 8: Simon Andrews 159 9: Michael Laverty 140 10: Karl Harris 102 15: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) 64 More, from a press release issued by GSE Racing/Airwaves Ducati: SHANE BYRNE WINS 2008 BRITISH SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIP Airwaves Ducati rider Shane Byrne sensationally clinched the 2008 British Superbike Championship at Silverstone today with 3rd and 2nd place finishes. Teammate Leon Camier took a superb victory in race one, following this with 4th in race two. GSE Racing is now the most successful British Superbike team of all time with a total of four championship titles. From their second row starting positions Leon and Shane were 7th and 8th respectively when a number of incidents at the front promoted them to 2nd and 3rd. Leon then took the lead on lap 9 with Shane remaining in the final podium spot. Shane got away better at the start of race two, slotting into 5th by the end of the first lap. He quickly made his way up to 2nd where he was to remain comfortably until the finish. Leon had to work hard to regain places having lost time at the start, eventually finishing just off the podium in 4th. Following race two Leon commented, “Today has been fantastic. I’m so pleased to have won again, and I’m absolutely delighted that Shane secured the championship. No one deserves it more than him. I have to say a big thank you to the Airwaves Ducati team; they’ve worked really hard over the weekend to give me a bike that was so good on the brakes that it made my job of overtaking a whole lot easier. I’m a little disappointed not to have got back on the podium in the second race but I’m really pleased with how I was riding and now can’t wait to get to Brands Hatch.” On his championship win Shane said, “What an incredibly day. I really wanted to win the championship for myself and GSE Racing last time out at Croft so I can’t help but feel it’s a little overdue. But we finally got it and that’s the main thing! A big, big thank you to Airwaves Ducati. They put a lot of faith in me at the start of the season and gave me a fantastic opportunity so I’m really pleased to repay them with the championship title.” Team Manager Colin Wright added “It has been a fantastic season for us, we started the year with new bikes, two new riders and different tyres to contend with. Obviously our goal was to win the championship but to be celebrating the win with everything new is a massive achievement for GSE Racing. We have won 4 British Championships in the last 10 years! Thank you so much to everyone who contributed to this superb record.” Race One Results: 1. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati 2. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati Race Two Results: 1. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 2. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 3. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 4. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati