Swan Yamaha’s Michael Laverty and HM Plant Honda’s Shane Byrne took victory in Thruxton’s round of the 2011 British Superbike Championship on Monday.
Laverty scored his first win of the season in wet conditions at Thruxton after an epic dog fight between the leading riders as ‘Shakey’ Byrne challenged for the podium after starting 33rd on the grid.
“To get a win today is a weight off my mind now as I had been putting pressure on myself as we have been fast all season and it just hasn’t quite come together in the race with bad luck and mistakes,” Laverty beamed.
“I had dropped out of the top six in the standings so knew a result here was so important and to be back on the top step of the podium is where we needed to be.”
Michael Rutter finished second ahead of the impressive Byrne, while John Hopkins moved to fourth on the final lap after a pass on Peter Hickman who was fifth.
Australia’s Josh Brookes was ninth in race one for Relentless Suzuki, with defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari completing the top 10.
Fellow Aussie Glen Richards finished second in the BSB Evo class.
Byrne scored his third victory of the year in the second race at Thruxton to maintain his championship lead.
“After the first race I was desperate to get to the front and just ride my own race,” Byrne said. “I was smoother and the HM Plant Honda was on rails so I couldn’t have been happier.
“The track was quite grippy but once I got to the front I was comfortable and in a rhythm. I think I could have even gone faster if I pushed a bit but a great weekend and all credit to the team. I can’t wait for Knockhill now!”
Hickman then settled into second place on the final lap whilst Hopkins made a move on Dan Linfoot to move third and secure his fifth podium finish of the season at the team’s home track.
Linfoot was then relegated to fifth on the final run into the Club Chicane as Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill, who had worked his way up from outside the top 10 on the opening lap, took the advantage.
Brookes finished sixth on the Relentless Suzuki ahead of race one winner Laverty.
Richards again finished second in the Evo class for the round.
After Billy McConnell won the opening Supersport race of the weekend, Monday’s second race saw Triumph teammate and fellow Aussie Paul Young take the victory while McConnell was fifth.
HM Plant Honda’s Jason O’Halloran was sixth in the Superstock 1000 round, with David Johnson scoring 12th.