Double joy for Shakey! Airwaves Ducati rider Shane Byrne claimed an awesome double victory at Oulton Park this afternoon for round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to establish himself as the early series leader. Despite difficult conditions in race one, the former British Superbike Champion secured maximum points at the Cheshire track. As the riders lined up on the grid for the opening Bennetts BSB race the heavens opened. Tom Sykes stormed into the lead from the line but lost the front end at the first corner. David Johnson, Guy Martin and Billy McConnell also slid off leading to a red flag and re-started race. A fierce battle played out between Byrne and Leon Haslam, with Haslam chipping away at the lead on the final four laps. A grandstand finish ensued, but Byrne hung on to claim the top step of the podium for the second time this season. He was followed past the chequered flag by Haslam and Leon Camier. The second instalment proved equally nail-biting with Byrne running off the track early on but recovering to fight his way to fourth position. For the second consecutive weekend, Haslam and Tom Sykes came together in a racing incident – prematurely ending the race for both Bennetts BSB contenders and leading to Haslam’s disqualification from the race. Shakey was propelled into second place before overtaking Crutchlow for the race lead. Once again the red flag was waved as Dean Ellison and Steve Mercer crashed out, but with two thirds race distance completed the result was declared with Byrne taking the spoils ahead of James Ellison and Camier. Race one result: 1. S. Byrne 32:29.161; 2. L. Haslam +0.204; 3. L. Camier +2.604 Race two result: 1. S. Byrne 21:13.862; 2. J. Ellison +4.247; 3. L. Camier +8.027 Championship standings: 1. S. Byrne 95; 2. L. Camier 56; 3. C. Crutchlow 55; 4. M. Rutter 54; 5. J. Ellison 46; 6. M. Laverty 37; 7. L. Haslam 33; 8. S. Easton 33; 9. T. Sykes 29; 10. T. Palmer 17 More, from a press release issued by Hydrex Bike Animal Honda: PODIUM JOY FOR ELLISON AT OULTON Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider James Ellison recorded his and the team’s best result with a superb second place at the Bennetts British Superbike Championship meeting held at Oulton Park today. The 27 year old from Kendal in Cumbria qualified on row three of the grid and after weather conditions intervened in the opening race causing a red flag, he eventually posted eighth position to add to his two sevenths at Thruxton in the previous round. But with a completely dry track for the second race in front of yet another massive bank holiday crowd, Ellison circulated with the leading pack in the opening stages as he battled with Leon Haslam, Cal Crutchlow and Tom Sykes and looked set to claim a good top five position. However on lap eleven Haslam and Sykes collided leaving Ellison to climb the order and when Crutchlow crashed as well that elevated him to second position and as a result he maintains his fifth position in the Championship with the runner up placing. For team mate Guy Martin it wasn’t such a good weekend and after falling off in qualifying injuring his wrist he managed twelfth in race one, but in race two he encountered a problem which caused him to retire on lap seven leaving him in fourteenth position in the Championship. The next round of the Championship takes place next weekend at Brands Hatch on 10th and 11th May. James Ellison: “I’m really happy. We’ve worked hard all weekend and just got better and better and we’ve now reached that extra level. We plugged away and we improved in certain areas and we put it all together in the race. I still have some small problems which we’ll get ironed out for Brands. When Shakey passed me he dragged me back up so I think I definitely had the pace to finish second. It was nice to finish where we did and I’m looking forward to Brands Hatch as the bike is working well.” Guy Martin: “I was over the moon at Thruxton, the bike was getting there and just needed polishing off a little bit, but we’ve been trying the new front forks again but they haven’t worked for me this weekend. Everyone is working really hard and hopefully we’ll get sorted at Brands. But we live and learn and if it was easy then everyone would be doing it!” Shaun Muir (Team Owner): “I’m obviously delighted for everyone and their hard work. It was great that James hung on in there and kept the early lap pace. It’s the first time we have ridden on a technical track like this in the dry and I’m completely vindicated in signing James this year. We’ve proved how much experience James has and I think the series is a lot better with his talent in it. We just need to build on this and keep putting the points in and we might be in a top championship position by the end of the season. Guy has struggled a little and he pulled in the second race so he can re-group for Brands and take it from there. I’d like to say thanks to the sponsors and everyone for their hard work.” Superbike Race One Result 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32m29.161s, 2, Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.204s, 3, Leon Camier (Ducati) +2.604s, 4, Michael Rutter (Ducati) +11.495s, 5, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) +20.015s, 6, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +22.023s, 7, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +37.259s, 8, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +39.322s, 9, Tristan Palmer (Honda) +54.028s, 10, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +57.885s, 11, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +1m04.599s, 12, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +1m15.442s. Superbike Race Two Result (Pending an Appeal with Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes) 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 21m13.862sm 2, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.247s, 3, Leon Camier (Ducati) +8.027s, 4, Leon Haslam (Honda) +8.152s, 5, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +1lap, 6, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +1lap, 7, Michael Rutter (Ducati) +1lap, 8, Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +1lap, 9, Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +1lap, 10, Atsushi Watanabe (Suzuki) +1lap. 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings after Round 3 (Pending an Appeal with Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes) 1, Shane Byrne (Ducati) 95 pts 2, Leon Camier (Ducati) 56pts 3, Cal Crutchlow (Honda) 55pts 4, Michael Rutter (Ducati) 54pts 5, Leon Haslam (Honda) 46pts =, James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 46pts 7, Michael Laverty (Suzuki) 37pts 8, Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) 33pts 9, Tom Sykes (Suzuki) 29pts 10, Tristan Palmer (Honda) 17pts 14, Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 12pts More, from a press release issued by British Superbike Championship organizers: Shane Byrne took a winning double in an incident littered Oulton Park round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to tighten his grip on the crown. The first race was stopped on the opening lap when five riders, including early leader Tom Sykes, tipped off in three incidents and with rain falling prior to the re-start the teams gambled on tyre choice. “We had six, maybe eight minutes to make the most important decision of the whole weekend, and that was what tyres to go with. The boys in the team chose the tyres for me, and I just rode them, pushing as hard as I could,” reflected Airwaves Ducati rider Byrne. Sykes again led on his Rizla Suzuki but Cal Crutchlow nosed his HM Plant Honda ahead on the fourth lap, only to run wide at Lodge at half distance, giving the lead to Airwaves Ducati rider Byrne. Byrne held off the close attentions of Leon Haslam in the closing stages to take the victory: “I tried real hard to keep the bike upright and keep the win it made for a really amusing race which I am pleased to have won.” Leon Camier took third place while Michael Rutter, continuing his early season run of form was fourth for North West 200 Ducati ahead of Sykes and Crutchlow. Steve Mercer, riding the Bob Farnham Tuning Sondel Yamaha, enjoyed maiden victory in the Daily Star Cup, finishing some four seconds clear of STP MV Agusta rider Chris Burns and Leon Morris aboard the Trimite Brookspeed Ducati. Sykes led the second race from Crutchlow and his team-mate Haslam but by the fourth lap, Haslam had moved second and was riding hard, eager for a first victory of the season. Haslam made controversial attempted overtaking move at the chicane on the eleventh lap, taking the inside line but it ended in disaster. Sykes crashed out while Haslam ran wide across the grass. Crutchlow had the lead, but not for long before Byrne, who at one point had dropped back to eleventh place after an error at the chicane, had nosed ahead on the twelfth lap. Next time round, Crutchlow crashed, sustaining ankle injuries, with the action red-flagged and Byrne credited with the victory which gives him the lead in the title chase 95-56 over his team-mate Leon Camier,who finished the second race in third place. Haslam crossed the line in fourth place ahead of Michael Laverty, on the Relentless Suzuki and MSS Discover Kawasaki rider Stuart Easton with Rutter just adrift. However after an investigation by the Judicial Clerk of the Course, Haslam was excluded from the results, a decision that following an appeal was upheld by the MCRCB Chief Steward. John Laverty took the victory in the Daily Star Cup, this third of the season, ahead of Luke Quigley, PDM Suzuki, and Burns while Mercer tumbled out of the second race. Bennetts British Superbike Championship results – Oulton Park. Race one 18 laps: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 32m 29.161secs 2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.204s 3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +2.604s 4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +11.495s 5. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +20.015s 6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +22.023s 7. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +37.259s 8. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +39.322s 9. Tristan Palmer (Tena for Men Honda) +54.028s 10. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +57.885s Race two 13 laps: 1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 21m 13.862secs 2. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.247s 3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +8.027s 4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +1 lap 5. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1 lap 6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +1 lap 7. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British Yamaha) +1 lap 8 Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +1 lap 9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1 lap 10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1 lap Bennetts British Superbike Championship standings: 1.Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 95 2. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 56 3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 55 4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) 54 5 James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 46 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes led both of today’s third round races at the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park and declared his intentions for the rest of the season. In race one Sykes led in wet but drying conditions before eventually finishing in fifth place; and in the second dry race he led for the first 10 laps before clashing with another rider and crashing unhurt. Team mate Atsushi Watanabe scored his first top 10 finish of his British Superbike campaign in the second race. In the opener he claimed points finishing in a competitive 13th position. Ducati’s Shane Byrne won both races at the 2.69 mile Cheshire track. Rizla Suzuki is back in action at the Brands Hatch GP circuit in Kent this Sunday, May 11th. This race was originally the opening round but postponed due to heavy snow. It is a shortened two-day meeting with practice on Saturday and racing on Sunday. Tom Sykes: “I’m incredibility frustrated; I thought I could have won my first Superbike race today for Rizla Suzuki. I was leading comfortably whilst watching my pit signals and the race was under control when another rider clashed with me and I crashed. “I will be focusing on the positives from this meeting and can’t wait to get my Rizla Suzuki back on track at Brands Hatch later this week. We proved we have the bike, rider and team to challenge for race wins and that is my intention for the rest of the season.” Atsushi Watanabe: “My feeling with my Rizla Suzuki is improving with every lap I complete. Finishing ninth is ok but I want better. “We return to Oulton Park later in the year and this I am looking forward to. I now know base setting and how to go fast here – so watch out for Atsu.” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “Tom was very unfortunate not to win his first Superbike race today. We are all looking forward to the remaining races as it is very clear that the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000 is capable of winning and Tom Sykes without a doubt is ready for a victory. It will come soon. “Atsu in only his second race meeting has got into the top 10 at possibly one of the hardest tracks to master. His talent is beyond doubt and we are all eager to see what he can achieve at Brands Hatch, a circuit he has already ridden on his Rizla Suzuki. “I am proud of the effort, determination and professionalism shown by the entire Rizla Suzuki team. Hard work and effort will bring its just rewards and this team is capable of winning – roll on the next round.” Race one results: 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 32:29.161 2: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.204 3: Leon Camier (Ducati) +2.604 4: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +11.495 5: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +20.015 6: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +22.023 7: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +37.259 8: James Ellison (Honda) +39.322 9: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +54.028 10: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +57.885 13: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1min 18.712 Race two results: 1: Shane Byrne (Ducati) 21:13.862 2: James Ellison (Honda) +4.247 3: Leon Camier (Ducati) +8.027 4: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +1 lap 5: Stuart Easton (Kawasaki) +1 lap 6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +1 lap 7: Simon Andrews (Yamaha) +1 lap 8: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +1 lap 9: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +1lap 10: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +1 lap DNF: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) More, from a press release issued by Guy Martin’s publicist: Mixed fortunes at Oulton for Martin Kirmington’s Guy Martin endured an up and down weekend of racing at Oulton Park where he was competing in round 2 of the British Superbike Championship. The Hydrex Bike Animal Honda ace finished in a solid 12th in Monday’s opening race but was forced to retire in the 2nd encounter and, with two crashes over the weekend, it was a tough few days for Guy and the team. Practice and qualifying went well for Guy and 13th on the grid was a more than encouraging sign. However, a spill on the slow down lap after qualifying left him with a sore wrist and a damaged Honda Fireblade and both were aggravated in the first Superbike race when he fell on the opening lap, a sudden rain shower catching 5 riders out on the first corner. The race was subsequently aborted and a new, wet race declared. Guy made a great start and moved up to 10th place at quarter race distance but, as the track began to dry, Guy, like most of the field, found grip hard to come by. He battled on and was rewarded for his efforts with 12th place and 4 more championship points. Race 2 saw the circuit a lot drier and in the opening lap Guy was lying in 14th place. However, after a major slide at Island Bend, he overshot Hizzy’s chicane and he toured back to the pits, his race coming to an early end. Speaking afterwards, Guy said: ‘It’s been a tough weekend and I’m still struggling for confidence in the front end despite the whole team’s best efforts to make everything work for me. With the first race being wet, grip was always going to be an issue as the race wore on and we were all sideways in the final few laps so 12th was ok given the conditions although I was a bit disappointed to have slipped back from tenth.’ ‘In the 2nd race, I had a couple of major front wheel slides and I eventually overshot the chicane so we may have to go back to the drawing board to sort out the problems I’m having. I could have done without the 2 spills but they weren’t anything major and my wrist felt fine on the bike so we’ll re-group in time for the next round and make sure we’re in good shape heading in to the North West 200.’ ‘Finally, I’d like to offer my deepest condoloncies to all the friends and family of Martin Finnegan who sadly lost his life at Tandragee on Saturday – Martin was a good friend and the big man will be sorely missed.’ Guy’s next race will take him back to Brands Hatch this coming weekend for the latest round of the British Superbike Championship, the meeting being re-scheduled after the intended round was snowed off in early April.