Source: BSB.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari renewed their on-track rivalry at the front of the pack on Thursday at the official MCE British Superbike Championship test at Donington Park.

Byrne, the four-time and reigning MCE BSB champion, claimed the advantage as the Japanese rider crashed unhurt in the closing minutes.

Young gun Danny Buchan provided the biggest surprise of the day, splitting the pair at the chequered flag on his return to the championship with the Tommy Hill-run Be Wiser Kawasaki team.

The test started in damp conditions with several of the riders waiting until the afternoon to take to the track, with Josh Brookes taking the initial position at the top on the new Yamaha R1 before the times began to tumble as the track conditions improved.

The Buildbase BMW of Kiyonari was improving with every lap, but in the closing ten minutes the former triple champion crashed out at Redgate, the Japanese ace left bruised but ready to make amends next weekend for the opening races of the season.

Byrne seized the opportunity to move ahead at the top of the timesheets, before a hard-charging Buchan split the champions in the closing minutes. The trio headed a promising performance from the Lloyds British Ducati team as they fired the Italian manufacturer into the four in the hands of Jakub Smrz, whilst Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot completed the top five.

JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison held sixth as he edged ahead of Stuart Easton and Richard Cooper, whilst Josh Brookes was the leading Milwaukee Yamaha in ninth with Tyco BMW completing the top ten with Tommy Bridewell.

It was a mixed day for the Aussies, led by Brookes, with incoming teammate Broc Parkes 13th on the second of the R1s, while Josh Waters (Halsall Suzuki) was 15th, rookie Billy McConnell (Smith’s BMW) 16th, Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 19th and David Johnson (Motorex BMW) 29th.

Former MotoGP star and 2011 BSB title runner-up John Hopkins was spotted in the paddock talking to various teams as he attempts to secure a late return to the championship for 2015.

2015 British Superbike Championship
Official test, Donington Park

Superbike results:
1. Shane Byrne 1m31.145s
2. Danny Buchan 1m31.367s
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari 1m31.375s
4. Jakub Smrz 1m31.388s
5. Dan Linfoot 1m31.429s
6. James Ellison 1m31.448s
7. Stuart Easton 1m31.463s
8. Richard Cooper 1m31.525s
9. Josh Brookes (AUS) 1m31.825s
10. Tommy Bridewell 1m32.035s
13. Broc Parkes (AUS) 1m32.276s
15. Josh Waters (AUS) 1m32.411s
16. Billy McConnell (AUS) 1m32.484s
19. Jason O’Halloran (AUS) 1m32.939s
29. David Johnson (AUS) 1m35.038s