Shane Byrne took his first victory in a little over a year at Mallory Park in a ninth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship that combined emotion and drama. Ryuichi Kiyonari, who had tumbled while leading the opening race, bounced back to win the second and tighten his grip on the title.
Jonathan Rea had made a superb start to the opening 30 lapper at the short, tight Leicestershire circuit, running his HM Plant Honda ahead of Chris Walker, Kiyonari and Byrne, and they ran in formation for seven laps before the Japanese rider swept into the lead and then began to pull out a clear advantage.
Behind him, Byrne was riding hard, and he picked off Walker, and then Rea, to be running his Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda in second place at half distance as Kiyonari ran comfortably clear out front, but, he was pushing on hard, and lost the front end of his Honda under braking going into Edwina’s Chicane with eight laps remaining.
Byrne was through, and heading for victory: “They were the longest eight laps in my career. This victory had been so long coming, and I wanted it so badly for two groups of people.
“First, it was for Team NB. My heart goes out to them and I dedicate this victory to them – theirs was a sad loss and though it won’t bring Ollie back, at least it is something for them, and I’m sure that he is up there smiling on us,” said Byrne as he reflected on the tragedy of the fatal crash of Ollie Bridewell during Friday free practice before praising the efforts of his own team.
“I’m so pleased for my team. All credit has to go to them. I was struggling after practice during the morning but they turned it all around for me and the bike was great. It’s been three years since they last had a win so this is something special for them.”
Second place, and the lead in the championship, went to Rea with Leon Haslam third, ahead of Walker and Gregorio Lavilla.
Rea again started swiftly in the second race, but Kiyonari was keen to make amends and he was leading on the second lap and then powering relentlessly into the distance. His team-mate was holding off the threat of Walker, who was soon coming under the close attentions of Haslam.
The Airwaves Ducati rider grabbed third place and then focussed firmly on Rea, closing in, pressuring and then with eight laps remaining nosing ahead at the Hairpin. The Ballyclare rider hit back immediately but then straight-lined into the ‘Bus-stop’ where rider and bike wedged into the barrier bringing the action to a premature halt.
Kiyonari took his sixth victory of the campaign, restoring his lead in the rankings, 298-282, over Rea. Haslam was second, ahead of Byrne and his young team-mate Tom Sykes with the Rizla Suzukis of Cal Crutchlow and Walker just adrift.
Tristan Palmer, riding the THR Honda, took the lead in the British Superbike Cup as he completed a daily double ahead of Krystal Racing Space Air Yamaha rider Lee Jackson. James Buckingham took third in the opener, but crashed next time out, with Tom Tunstall finishing third.
Results – Round Nine (Bennetts British Superbike Championship)
Race One – 30 laps
- S Byrne - Stobart Honda - 28:21.458
- J Rea - HM Plant Honda - 28:24.237
- L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - 28:24.396
- C Walker - Rizla Suzuki - 28:27.516
- G Lavilla - Airwaves Ducati - 28:28.880
- T Sykes - Stobart Honda - 28:30.595
Race Two – 22 laps
- R Kiyonari - HM Plant Honda - 21:24.315
- L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - 21:26.095
- S Byrne - Stobart Honda - 21:28.812
- T Sykes - Stobart Honda - 21:29.772
- C Crutchlow - Rizla Suzuki - 21:30.239
- C Walker - Rizla Suzuki - 21:30.597
Championship standings
- R Kiyonari - 298
- J Rea - 282
- L Haslam - 267
- G Lavilla - 246
- S Byrne - 228
- L Camier - 179
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