Alex Lowes (above) moved four points ahead of Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after the opening race at Silverstone where they both finished on the podium along with Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell.
Race two saw Byrne claim the second race win in a photo finish with rival Alex Lowes as the defending champion leads his Samsung Honda rival by a single point ahead of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship finale at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.
Race 1
Lowes celebrated the opening victory at Silverstone and hailed a fantastic race with rival Byrne after the pair again diced all the way to the wire with the Samsung Honda rider having the edge by 0.094s as they crossed the line. Byrne defied the odds to return to the podium, despite the pain from his crash yesterday.
Tommy Bridewell was back on the podium for the second consecutive round as the Milwaukee Yamaha rider fought off the challenge from Tyco Suzuyki’s PJ Jacobsen to complete the line up of three different manufactures on the race one podium.
Results – Race 1
1. Alex Lowes GBR Samsung Honda CBR1000RR 29m 43.638s
2. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid PBM Kawasaki ZX-10R +0.094s
3. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +8.327s
4. PJ Jacobsen USA Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +8.605
5. James Ellison GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +14.407s
6. Jon Kirkham GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +15.568s
7. Peter Hickman GBR GBmoto Honda CBR1000RR +20.292s
8. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +21.619s
9. Matteo Baiocco ITA Moto Rapido Ducati 1199 Panigale +23.918s
10. Barry Burrell GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-10R +30.307s
12. Josh Waters AUS Halsall Kawasaki ZX-10R +31.982s …etc
Race 2
Byrne shot into the lead from the pole position on the opening lap with Lowes in close contention and the Samsung Honda rider wasted no time in making a move at Stowe to take the lead with the Tyco Suzuki pairing of Josh Brookes and PJ Jacobsen shadowing in third and fourth respectively.
A lap later and Byrne was back in the lead with a move at the Hairpin on his rival as the leading Title Fighters continued their Showdown battle for supremacy. Lowes was determined to get back ahead and after looking several times he made a move that stuck on lap five to return to the front for Samsung Honda.
Lowes though was not giving an inch and again he made a scintillating move at Stowe two laps later to regain the advantage. He held the lead and defended hard on the final lap and looked set to claim the second win but as the pair exited Woodcote for the last time they were side-by-side and a thrilling run to the line saw Byrne win by 0.012s in a photo finish with Lowes.
Bridewell claimed third to score his first ever double podium finish in the championship ahead of his team-mate James Ellison who overcame a huge moment in the early stages of the race when he sensationally saved a high-side.
Ellison had closed in and passed the formation fighting Tyco Suzukis; the team-mates had been locked in a duel throughout the race with Josh Brookes having the advantage at the end from PJ Jacobsen.
Jon Kirkham again returned to the top ten in seventh for Buildbase BMW ahead of Matteo Baiocco who celebrated his second top ten performance of the day for Rapido Sport Racing Ducati. James Westmoreland and Jakub Smrz completed the top ten.
Results – Race 2
1. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid PBM Kawasaki ZX-10R 29m 40.169s
2. Alex Lowes GBR Samsung Honda CBR1000RR +0.012s
3. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +3.686s
4. James Ellison GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +6.916s
5. Josh Brookes AUS Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.507s
6. PJ Jacobsen USA Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +7.597s
7. Jon Kirkham GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +14.060s
8. Matteo Baiocco ITA Moto Rapido Ducati 1199 Panigale +22.419s
9. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +23.609s
10. Jakub Smrz CZE Padgetts Honda CBR1000RR +26.118s
12. Josh Waters AUS Halsall Kawasaki ZX-10R +26.839s
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings ahead of Brands Hatch finale:
1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 604
2. Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 603
3. James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 562
4. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 546
5. James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) 534
6. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) 522
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