Source: British Superbike Championship

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne threaded his way to the front to claim two race wins from as many starts at the British Superbike Championship (BSB) opener at Brands Hatch.

The three-time champion started from grid position 13 in race one, cautiously picking off rider after rider before making his way into the battle for the lead.

Byrne’s assignment became clearer after primary title rival, Australia’s Josh Brookes, crashed while pushing for the lead on lap seven.

A red-flag restart for spilt fluid compressed the field soon after, with Byrne making his way to the front.

He was challenged by the Lloyds British GBmoto pairing of Chris Walker and James Ellison but held his mettle to take the win by a 1.615-second margin.

Walker and Ellison completed the podium, a significant result for the team as it claimed its first podium finishes in class.

Josh Waters claimed a point on debut with Tyco Suzuki, riding consistently from grid position 14 to eventually claim 15th in amongst a packed field.

Anvil Hire TAG Racing’s Mitchell Carr registered a solid finish, finishing in a tight-packed group of riders to take 20th.

The second Superbike race again belonged to Byrne, but this time he was pushed to a winning margin of just 0.138 seconds by Brookes who staged a strong fightback after his race one DNF.

Byrne set the pace out front and was soon met on track by the Milwaukee Yamaha of Brookes who found himself in podium contention just after mid-race distance.

Brookes’ efforts saw him credited with a solid second behind Byrne, with Ellison able to register his second podium of the weekend after holding off the advances of Ryuichi Kiyonari and teammate Walker.

Waters would finish a position shy of the points in 16th, while Carr crashed out of contention on his Kawasaki.

Byrne leads the class standings after a clean sweep, with Brookes running fifth, Waters 18th and Carr not yet classified.

A thrilling three-way battle in the Supersport feature reach went the way of MarTrain Yamaha rider Alastair Seeley who had the upper hand over Smiths Triuph riders Graeme Gowland and Australia’s Billy McConnell at the wave of the chequered flag.

Gowland and McConnell both had their time at the head of the pack but it was Seeley who capitalised in the crucial stages.

Profile Racing Triumph’s Luke Stapleford was a lone fourth, with Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin sealing fifth.

Following Sunday’s sprint and Monday’s feature races, Seeley leads the way in the 600 class from Irwin and Jones, with McConnell a competitive fourth, 15 points off the leaders.

Tsingtao WK Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan won the opening Superstock 1000 bout from Jason O’Halloran aboard the factory Honda mount.

Buchan won the restarted 20 lap race by 3.515 seconds from the Aussie, with Kawasaki’s Josh Elliot completing the podium.

PR Racing Kawasaki’s David Johnson claimed 10th place, with countryman Glen Richards an unfortunate DNF on the Padgetts Honda upon return to the class.

A multiple-rider crash on the opening lap of the Superstock 600 race saw the duration reduced to just 14 laps, with Moto-Breakers Kawasaki’s James Lodge claiming a narrow win from fellow ZX-6R riders Mason Law and Joe Collier.

Levi Day made strong progress to finish ninth after a tough qualifying session, with James Mutton also making up ground to take 19th. Ben Currie, the third Aussie in class, was a non-finisher.

The 12-round championship resumes at Oulton Park on 3 May.

2014 British Superbike Championship
Round one – Brands Hatch

Superbike race one results:
1. Shane BYRNE
2. Chris WALKER +1.615
3. James ELLISON +1.672
4. Ben WILSON +5.639
5. John HOPKINS +6.007
6. Stuart EASTON +6.235
7. Tommy BRIDEWELL +6.365
8. Richard COOPER +7.328
9. Jakub SMRZ +7.398
10. James WESTMORELAND +7.735
15. Josh WATERS (AUS) +10.910
20. Mitchell CARR (AUS) +14.341
DNF. Josh BROOKES (AUS)

Superbike race two results:
1. Shane BYRNE
2. Josh BROOKES (AUS) +0.138
3. James ELLISON +1.785
4. Ryuichi KIYONARI +3.694
5. Chris WALKER +5.376
6. Stuart EASTON +5.724
7. James WESTMORELAND +10.826
8. Dan LINFOOT +11.488
9. Tommy BRIDEWELL +11.678
10. Ben WILSON +11.908
16. Josh WATERS (AUS) +20.670
DNF. Mitchell CARR (AUS)

Superbike championship standings (after round one of 12):
1. Shane BYRNE 50
2. James ELLISON 32
3. Chris WALKER 31
4. Stuart EASTON 20
5. Josh BROOKES (AUS) 20
6. Ben WILSON 19
7. John HOPKINS 16
8. Tommy BRIDEWELL 16
9. James WESTMORELAND 15
10. Dan LINFOOT 13
18. Josh WATERS (AUS) 1
NC. Mitchell CARR (AUS)

Supersport feature race results:
1. Alastair SEELEY
2. Graeme GOWLAND +2.904
3. Billy McCONNELL (AUS) +2.975
4. Luke STAPLEFORD +7.562
5. Glenn IRWIN +9.492
6. Luke JONES +10.481
7. Jake DIXON +13.238
8. Taylor MACKENZIE +19.468
9. Bjorn ESTMENT +19.655
10. Samuel HORNSEY +19.846

Supersport championship standings (after round one of 12):
1. Alastair SEELEY 41
2. Glenn IRWIN 36
3. Luke JONES 30
4. Billy McCONNELL (AUS) 26
5. Graeme GOWLAND 20
6. Alex OLSEN 18
7. Luke STAPLEFORD 17
8. Bjorn ESTMENT 15
9. Samuel HORNSEY 13
10. Luke HEDGER 11

Click here for detailed results