Leon Camier enjoyed maiden race winning glory in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the first race of the fifth round at Snetterton but his Airwaves Ducati team-mate Shane Byrne headed him off with a spectacular ride in the difficult wet conditions of the second race.
Byrne, who had missed out on victory in the opener by a split second, had it all to do next time out after Rob Mac Racing Yamaha rider Karl Harris had high-sided off right in front of him on the opening lap, forcing the Ducati rider to stop and take avoiding action of the stricken rider.
“There was no choice – I had either to stop or run over him, or hit his bike,” explained Byrne who had been running third at the time, but who dropped ten places, prompting a remarkable ride through the pack in the difficult conditions as the track in places began to dry, while in others it was extremely wet.
Byrne was equal to the challenge, showing the qualities that had taken him to the title back in 2003 as he picked up positions and by the end of the fourth lap he was fourth, and lapping faster than the riders ahead of him.
“I got going and went for it. I was getting the signals that I was picking up places and I suddenly thought to myself keep this pace and you can win it,” added Byrne. He picked off HM Plant Honda rider Leon Haslam to be third at half distance in the race, decided over the reduced distance of 15 laps after a length delay prior to the start.
Two laps later he had accounted for Cal Crutchlow and was closing in on his race leading team-mate Camier, taking him on the penultimate lap at the Russells.
“I’m delighted with this victory, I really couldn’t be happier. The team gave me a good bike, I rode it, and this is superb,” said Byrne as he enjoyed his seventh victory of the campaign, finishing 2.433 seconds ahead of Camier.
Crutchlow took third place, with Michael Rutter moving his North West 200 Ducati fourth at the expense of Haslam with Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki ahead of Tom Sykes aboard the Rizla Suzuki with Simon Andrews, Tristan Palmer and James Ellison completing the top ten.
Earlier, Camier had taken centre-stage with a strong running performance that had seen him take the lead on the fourth lap, running ahead of Haslam, Sykes, with Byrne fourth from Laverty and Harris.
Byrne moved third with five laps remaining while Haslam regained the race lead at the Esses, though having to ride hard to hold off Camier who was determined to hit back rapidly. The Ducati rider had to wait until the eighteenth lap, moving through at the Esses and at Russells Byrne nosed through, emerging in second place at the expense of Sykes and Haslam who ran straight on, dropping back to fifth.
“Unbelievable – this is an awesome result and I am really happy, and I am so pleased to have that first victory behind me,” reflected Camier while Byrne commented: “I made the move on Leon but I’d left it too late to make it stick.”
The victory and second place at the Norfolk circuit lifted Camier into second place in the standings, 235-152 down on Byrne, with Crutchlow dropping to third overall on 151 points.
Gary Mason powered in a winning Daily Star Cup double aboard his Quay Garage Honda to underline his credentials for a title challenge as he twice headed off series leading John Laverty.
“These are great results for us as we are a low budget team and everyone is working so hard to keep us on track – I’m really enjoying riding with the team,” enthused Mason who after racing in only two rounds is not fifth in the standings.
Laverty leads 211-113 ahead of Tom Tunstall, fourth and third aboard the Hardinge Ice Valley Honda with Martin Jessopp twice fifth on his Honda on 109 points, five ahead of Leon Morris who finished third and fourth here.
Results – Bennetts British Superbike Championship – Round FiveRace One – 20 laps:1.Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 23m 13.162secs
2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.092s
3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +0.597s
4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.026s
5. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.311s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +2.872s
7. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +6.050s
8. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +6.437s
9. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +16.842s
10. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Racing) +19.540s
Race Two – 15 laps:1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 18m 41.592secs
2. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +2.433s
3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +6.012s
4. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +11.875s
5. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +14.527s
6. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +19.957s
7. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +21.123s
8. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Racing Yamaha) +21.162s
9. Tristan Palmer (Tena for Men Honda) +25.262s
10. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +27.488s
Championship standings:1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 235
2. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) 152
3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) 151
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) 118
5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) 103
Next round – Mallory Park, 27th-28th-29th June.
