British Superbike News

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne won both races at Donington today in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship on the Airwaves Ducati in extremely windy conditions.

Race 1 

In race one, Byrne’s dominated the race from start to finish while Leon Haslam battled his way from eighth place on lap one.

When the safety car was deployed on lap eight due to Luke Quigley’s bike catching fire, Haslam had passed Tom Sykes and was up to fifth.

The safety car came in two laps later with Byrnes leading the race followed by Cal Crutchlow, Karl Harris, James Ellison and Haslam.

Haslam was in second place by lap fifteen as Crutchlow started to lose time.  Harris lost his chance at a podium finish as he ran wide allowing Sykes and Ellison to get past.

After the race, Shane said “That was a difficult race with the conditions but I got a sensible start and was able to pull  a gap and then the safety car came out.  I spent most of the time behind the safety car trying to work out how I was going to break them all over again.  But I did some good lap times and I was able to get ahead.  The wind was really bad on the last lap, as I excited Redgate Corner the wind caught my front wheel and I had to pick the bike up but I am happy to give another good result to the Airwaves Ducati team.”

Here are the results for race 1;

1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 32:01.058

2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.473

3. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +3.442

4. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +5.856

5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +6.188

6. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +6.636

7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) +7.464

8. Michael Rutter (NW 200 Ducati) +9.809

9. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +12.627

10. Simon Andrews (Hardinge Ice Valley Motorsport) +16.244

Race 2 

Both Airwaves Ducati riders got a bad start and Ellison took the lead followed by Haslam.  Haslam got past Ellison at McLeans followed by Crutchlow, Ellison, Camier and Byrne fighting for their places.

Byrne’s moved to third behind the two HM Plant Honda riders after passing Camier at the Melbourne Loop and then taking Ellison.

Byrne took Crutchlow on lap seventeen, again at the Melbourne Loop before diving down the inside of Haslam and keeping a tight line to maintain the lead at the finish line.

Here are the results for race 2 ;

1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 31:06.337

2. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.355

3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.447

4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +1.596

5. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.186

6. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +7.446

7. Karl Harris (Team Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +15.707

8. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +26.794

9. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Racing) +31.816

10. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +32.870