News 16 Oct 2017

Byrne clinches sixth BSB title in dramatic Brands Hatch finale

Australian Brookes claims race win and runner-up in the championship.

Source: Supplied.

BeWiser Ducati Racing Team’s Shane Byrne has clinched his sixth MCE British Superbike Championship (BSB) at Brands Hatch’s finale over the weekend, in what proved to one of the most dramatic rounds of the season.

In race one, Byrne shot out to the lead, charging his way through to a narrow 1.799s victory over Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW Motorrad), who just edged out Australian Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire Yamaha) on the podium.

Former points leader Leon Haslam (JG Speedlift Kawasaki) cruised in for fourth ahead of Jason Ellison (McAms Yamaha), while Aussie Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) pulled through for sixth.

The second outing saw Byrne star again, this time defeating Ellison by a slender 0.524 in what was hard-fought race. Iddon closed out the podium in third, followed by Brookes and O’Halloran.

In what was a real shake up in the championship, Haslam experience problems of his own, finishing up in 10th and a losing a bunch of costly points in the title chase.

With the title now up for grabs, all of the contenders laid it on the line as Brookes pulled through to take the win over compatriot O’Halloran, making it an Australian 1-2 finish to round out the year. The pair finished just 0.687s apart, with third place holder Ellison crossing the line just a further two hundredths of a second behind.

Michael Laverty (McAms Yamaha) and Iddon were fourth and fifth respectively, while Byrne finished in seventh to wrap up the title. Haslam crashed out of finale with a brake issue, ultimately costing him the championship and a wrist injury. Brookes rounded out the series second in the standings, with O’Halloran pushing through for fifth.

Australian Ben Currie (Kawasaki) went 3-4 to round out the year third in the Supersport division, as fellow Aussies Sam Clarke (Yamaha) and Brayden Elliott (Yamaha) went sixth and 26th respectively on the day in Superstock 1000, finishing the series in positions 23 and 26.

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