Aussie Josh Brookes (right) was second in the 2012 BSB title chase.

Shane Byrne took a record equalling third MCE Insurance British Superbike crown in style as he celebrated a hat-trick of victories in a dramatic, thrilling finale to the championship at the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

The local hero had the edge over Australian Josh Brookes going into the final round and Byrne increased his lead to 18 points when he won the opening race on Saturday afternoon ahead of the outgoing champion Swan Yamaha’s Tommy Hill.

Byrne continued his winning momentum into the first of Sunday’s races and despite two Nissan GT-R safety car periods he kept his cool to defeat Brookes and hold the advantage into the championship-deciding final race of the season.

“I got a bit worried then in case I ran short of fuel – I was in a bit of pickle but the bike was awesome, the team had concentrated so hard to get it perfect for race distance,” said Byrne as he headed off the determined Tyco Suzuki riding Brookes by a little over a second.

That left Byrne needing to score just two points to add a third crown to his ones from 2003 and 2008 but Brookes was determined to win, forging into the lead for much of the race.

Byrne however was determined to sign off his title success in style and on the penultimate lap he charged into the lead at Pilgrims Drop, taking the victory by a third of a second.

“I was happy following Josh, as I knew that it was enough, but then a the red mist came in front of the visor and I had to have a go,” he added.

“The team has given me such a fantastic bike that it would have been cruel not to have gone for the win and that was such a great race. It was amazing to have achieved this I have to thank the team who have made it all possible for me – I’m just the final part of the puzzle.

“I’m ecstatic, elated, excited and to take the title for a third time is such an achievement,” added Byrne who had taken Kawasaki to their first British crown in two decades.

Brookes’ second place confirmed his runner-up place overall in the championship, ahead of Hill who took third position in the final race after Alex Lowes and Michael Laverty had crashed out of contention on the last lap at Paddock Hill Bend.

Jason O’Halloran finished with 16-11-11 results in a one-off ride with Padgetts Honda, while Nick Waters rode his Quattro Plant Kawasaki to 21-20-21 results on debut in BSB.

Riding an Aprilia, Mark Aitchison finished 14th in the opening race of the weekend, before suffering a DNF in the second two races.

South Australian Glen Richards won the British Supersport Championship for Triumph, with teammate Billy McConnell third for the 2012 season.

Australian Supersport number three Brodie Waters finished with 13-9 results in the British Supersport round to cap off his season.

In the Superstock 1000 race it was Pat Medcalf as best performing Aussie in seventh, as David Johnson didn’t finish. Superstock 600 racer Ben Burke didn’t finish the Superstock 600 race, but finished second in the series.

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