Source: BSB.

JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison headed off four-time MCE Insurance British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne to win the first race of the opening round at Donington Park, but in race two the PBM Kawasaki rider grabbed glory after an intense battle with Dan Linfoot.

Byrne had grabbed the early lead in the first race, but after the intervention of the Nissan GTR Safety Car as marshal’s dealt with Ralf lo Turco’s crash, Ellison forced his JG Speedfit Kawasaki into the lead.

Byrne was trying to repay the move, but there was no way ahead of the Cumbrian who took his first race win in two years by 0.131s and Kawasaki’s first in the championship at the Leicestershire circuit since 1999.

Josh Brookes had ridden hard and strong, surpassing even his own expectations, to bring the all-new Milwaukee Yamaha on to the podium in third place as he outgunned Honda Racing’s Linfoot at the Melbourne Hairpin to take the placing by 0.058s.

Ellison’s hopes of a repeat performance in race two were thwarted by a flat battery which caused him to miss the sighting lap period and because of that an enforced start at the back of the grid. He put in a determined performance to charge through the pack to salvage a 12th place finish.

Ahead of him Byrne claimed the initial advantage, but Linfoot in second after pushing his way ahead of Stuart Easton, was reeling him in.

The front running scrap was fast developing and soon they were trading places, with positions changing at nearly every opportunity.

At the end Byrne had that little bit extra, taking the victory from the young Yorkshireman as Easton finished third from RAF Reserves BMW rider Peter Hickman and Christian Iddon on the Bennetts Suzuki.

Brookes, who had lost ground after taking evasive action Kiyonari highsided in front of him fought back to finish sixth. The Buildbase BMW rider leaving Donington Park with a single 14th place finish ahead of the next round at Brands Hatch in two weeks time.

Billy McConnell (Smiths BMW) was a non-finisher in race one but bounced back for ninth in the second, Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) went 19-11, Josh Waters (Bennetts Suzuki) scored 18-15, Broc Parkes a 16-DNF and David Johnson (BMW) 24-26 results.

2015 MCE British Superbike Championship
Round one – Donington Park

Superbike race one results:
1. James Ellison
2. Shane Byrne +0.131s
3. Josh Brookes (AUS) +9.112s
4. Dan Linfoot +9.170s
5. Peter Hickman +11.276s
6. Tommy Bridewell +16.139s
7. Christian Iddon +17.281s
8. Chris Walker +22.776s
9. Michael Laverty +22.915s
10. Richard Cooper +23.456s
16. Broc Parkes (AUS) +28.299s
18. Josh Waters (AUS) +29.317s
19. Jason O’Halloran (AUS) +29.449s
24. David Johnson (AUS) +1m14.479s

Superbike race two results:
1. Shane Byrne
2. Dan Linfoot +0.589s
3. Stuart Easton +1.331s
4. Peter Hickman +3.343s
5. Christian Iddon +4.239s
6. Josh Brookes (AUS) +5.327s
7. Michael Laverty +8.786s
8. Tommy Bridewell +9.311s
9. Billy McConnell (AUS) +10.931s
10. Chris Walker +11.346s
11. Jason O’Halloran (AUS) +18.093s
15. Josh Waters (AUS) +19.996s
26. David Johnson (AUS) +1m 16.585s

Superbike championship standings:
1. Shane Byrne 45
2. Dan Linfoot 33
3. James Ellison 29
4. Josh Brookes (AUS) 26
5. Peter Hickman 24
6. Stuart Easton 21
7. Christian Iddon 20
8. Tommy Bridewell 18
9. Michael Laverty 16
10. Chris Walker 14
11. Billy McConnell (AUS) 7
14. Jason O’Halloran (AUS) 5
19. Josh Waters (AUS) 1

Click here for detailed results