MCE British Superbike Championship
Knockhill Circuit, UK
July 5, 2015
Race One Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kawasaki), 30 laps, 25:04.244
2. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), -0.345 second
3. Stuart Easton, UK (Kawasaki), -0.495
4. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), -0.952
5. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Honda), -3.657 seconds
6. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), -5.360
7. Tommy Bridewell, UK (BMW), -9.178
8. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), -10.305
9. James Westmoreland, UK (Kawasaki), -12.896
10. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), -13.217
11. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW), -13.391
12. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW), -19.537
13. Michael Rutter, UK (Kawasaki), -30.169
14. Broc Parkes, Australia (Yamaha), -32.468
15. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kawasaki), -33.121
16. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kawasaki), -38.831
17. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kawasaki), -1 lap
18. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Honda), -1 lap
19. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yamaha), -1 lap
20. James Rose, UK (Kawasaki), -6 laps, DNF
21. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Kawasaki), -16 laps, DNF
22. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Italy (MV Agusta), -16 laps, DNF
23. Josh Waters, Australia (Suzuki), -18 laps, DNF
24. James Ellison, UK (Kawasaki), -21 laps, DNF
25. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW), -21 laps, DNF
26. Richard Cooper, UK (Kawasaki), -24 laps, DNF
27. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kawasaki), -25 laps, DNF
28. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), -26 laps, DNF
29. Christian Iddon, UK (Suzuki), -29 laps, DNF
30. Joe Burns, UK (Kawasaki), -29 laps, DNF
31. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kawasaki), -30 laps, DNF
Race Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kawasaki), 11 laps, 8:56.056
2. Stuart Easton, UK (Kawasaki), -0.436 second
3. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), -0.771
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW), -4.518 seconds
5. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Honda), -5.064
6. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), -6.134
7. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), -7.104
8. James Westmoreland, UK (Kawasaki), -7.646
9. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), -8.157
10. Christian Iddon, UK (Suzuki), -8.395
11. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW), -8.592
12. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), -10.728
13. Richard Cooper, UK (Kawasaki), -11.289
14. Broc Parkes, Australia (Yamaha), -12.447
15. Josh Waters, Australia (Suzuki), -13.179
16. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kawasaki), -13.667
17. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kawasaki), -13.903
18. Michael Rutter, UK (Kawasaki), -14.935
19. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kawasaki), -17.510
20. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kawasaki), -25.161
21. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW), -27.281
22. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Honda), -27.833
23. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yamaha), -27.938
24. James Rose, UK (Kawasaki), -33.175
25. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), -2 laps, DNF
26. James Ellison, UK (Kawasaki), -6 laps, DNF
Championship Point Standings (after 10 of 26 races):
1. Byrne, 201 points
2. Brookes, 163
3. Easton, 135
4. Ellison, 118
5. O’Halloran, 96
6. Bridewell, 86
7. Laverty, 83
8. Linfoot, 54
9. Kiyonari, 52
10. TIE, Mainwaring/Chris Walker, 45
American James Rispoli, riding his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6, finished sixth in Motorpoint Supersport Race Two Sunday at Knockhill.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:
Shakey celebrates Scottish double as Brands Hatch beckons
Race one:
1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
2: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +0.495s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.952s
4: Michael Laverty* (Tyco BMW) 1.345s
5: Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +3.657s
6: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +5.360s
*Laverty received a 1 second time penalty for overtaking in a yellow flag zone
Race two:
1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
2: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +0.436s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.771s
4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +4.518s
5: Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +5.064s
6: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +6.134s
Championship standings:
1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 201
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 166
3: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) 139
4: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 118
5: Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 96
6: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 86
Report
Defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has set himself up perfectly for his home round of Brands Hatch (17/18/19 July) by scoring a Scottish double at Knockhill, holding off the challenges from his closest rivals in two intense races.
Byrne took the lead in the opening race with a decisive move over his team-mate Stuart Easton at the Hairpin on the opening lap and despite the Scot trying everything in his power to fight back, it wasn’t enough and he had to settle for a podium finish.
Michael Laverty had claimed second place on the Tyco BMW after a late surge to pass Australian Josh Brookes on the Milwaukee Yamaha at the Hairpin, but following a review by Race Direction he was later issued a one second penalty for overtaking in a yellow flag zone which dropped him back to fourth. The issued penalty moved Easton to second ahead of Brookes.
The second race started with Laverty hitting the front of the field on the Tyco BMW from Easton and Byrne with Brookes in fourth place. Laverty was defending hard until Byrne made a move to take the lead on the 13th lap and then the pack were dicing for positions when the race was red flagged for a sharp rain shower.
The 11-lap restarted sprint race to the finish was held in dry conditions and Byrne hit the front, holding off the attack from Easton and Brookes as a rejuvenated Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed fourth place for Buildbase BMW after a race one crash.
Jason O’Halloran completed the top five for Honda Racing but it was disappointment for James Ellison at Knockhill as he crashed out of the opening race and then was forced to retire with a technical problem in the second race.
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
R1: 1st, R2: 1st
“It might have looked easy, but I can tell you it wasn’t! The first race was long and the pace was not as quick and I had expected it to be, but I was desperate to be in front.
“In the second race I was one of the riders who put my hand up to get the race stopped. There are people saying if it had run another lap or so it would have been two thirds distance and a result declared – OK, I would still have the win, but to those people I would say come and ride at 155mph into the first turn with rain and see what it is like – it had to be stopped for safety reasons.
“I had a plan for the sprint race and that was to start at the front and finish at the front. I was able to push hard and the bike was perfect and I can’t wait for Brands Hatch now!”
More, from a press release issued by Paul Bird Motorsport:
Historic Double One-Two For Byrne And Easton At Knockhill
Penrith-based Paul Bird Motorsport enjoyed a brilliant and historic day at the fifth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland today with reigning champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne taking another double race victory with Scottish team-mate Stuart Easton claiming a double podium at his home track.
Aboard the PBM Kawasaki ZX-10Rs, Byrne and Easton dominated throughout practice and qualifying and duly lined up in first and second respectively on the grid for the opening race where they stayed for the majority of the 30 laps. Despite a titanic battle, Byrne led throughout to record his ninth race victory at the Fife track with local hero Easton dropping to third in the latter stages as they crossed the line.
However, a post race judicial decision saw original second placed finisher Michael Laverty penalised two places meaning Easton was promoted to second position behind his team-mate meaning an historic first ever one-two for Paul Bird’s team in the British Superbike Championship.
Race two saw Byrne and Easton line up in fifth and fourth respectively on the grid and by half race distance, four-times MCE BSB champion Byrne was leading with Easton just behind. However, on lap 19 the race was stopped due to rain and restarted with a shortened 11 lap dash but the two team-mates made the best start from the revised front row and they came home in first and second places to complete an unprecedented double one-two for the Cumbrian-based team.
It upped Shakey’s tally to 66 career wins with ten of those coming in Scotland and combined with his double victory at the previous round at Snetterton, his count of doubles now stands at 15. The results also mean that now he has extended his championship lead over Josh Brookes to 35 points with Easton moving up to third overall.
Shane Byrne: “The pace in the first race wasn’t the fastest but each time I tried to push hard and make the break, the bike was spinning up a bit and it didn’t quite feel right. My lead stayed around the 0.2 seconds mark so I tried to stay consistent, hitting all my lines, and then waited until the last couple of laps to go again. In the second race, the plan was to start from the front and finish at the front and with not having a full tank of fuel for the restart; I knew I could push hard straight away. The bike was perfect so a big thanks to the team and also to the guys at K-Tech and with Stuart in second, it’s been a great weekend for Paul Bird Motorsport.”
Stuart Easton: “I still haven’t managed a win at Knockhill after all these years but I’m pleased with second and third even though I was a bit disappointed with the result in the first race as I felt settled sitting behind Shakey and was strong in the last sector. Then Michael Laverty came under me and there was a bit of contact so I lost the tow to Shakey, I got beat up a bit but at least I got a podium. The second race was a lot better and it’s more points and podium credits so thanks to the team and well done to everyone at Knockhill for doing a great job.”
Paul Bird, Team Owner: “We’re on a roll at the moment and right from Friday morning the boys were on it and clearly showing their intentions. I had a feeling it would be a good meeting for the team as Knockhill’s traditionally given us good results and so it proved again. We’ve made further improvements to the bike which both riders took full advantage of and to take a double one-two on my Dad’s birthday is an excellent outcome, well done to everyone at Paul Bird Motorsport.”