Josh Brookes hoists the winners trophy for the first time in 2013.

Australia’s Josh Brookes has broken through to score his first British Superbike Championship race win of the 2013 season, sharing the top step of the podium with series leader Shane Byrne across two action-packed battles upon the Brands Hatch GP circuit.

In race one Byrne took the early lead from Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes and the Tyco Suzuki of Brookes. His time at the top was momentary, however, with Lowes and then Brookes moving by in what would become a tense three-way battle for the lead.

Brookes, determined to break a personal win drought for 2013, moved past Lowes and into the lead soon after, with Byrne launching a concerted charge at the Aussie but ultimately tucking the front end and crashing dramatically out of the running.

The leading pack was reduced to two as Brookes and Lowes went head-to-head in contest for the win. Ultimately Brookes would prevail, a 0.243-second margins separating himself and Lowes as the chequered flag fell.

Lowes’ teammate Ryuichi Kiyonari came home in third and in the final podium placing, though he was some eight seconds off the leaders’ blistering pace.

James Westmoreland and PJ Jacobsen completed the top five, with Jon Kirkham, Dan Linfoot, Keith Farmer, Howie Mainwaring and Michael Rutter making up the minor placings in the top 10. Australia’s Josh Waters finished 14th in a consistent showing on the Milwaukee Yamaha R1.

The second race of the day belonged to Byrne, who was determined to redeem himself in front of his home crowd.

Byrne took the lead on the opening lap, with Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison, a race one non-finisher, Lowes and Brookes in tow.

As the leading group looked to break away their rhythm was ruined by a lap seven safety car, which bunched the field upon restart.

Byrne controlled the pace in the second stanza of the race, with positions amongst the top four ultimately remaining unchanged. Kiyonari came home fifth, with Westmoreland, Kirkham, Jacobsen, Linfoot and Farmer filling placings six through 10.

Aussie Josh Waters was 12th in an improved showing.

Byrne secured win number 49 in the BSB ranks and rued the lost chance to crack the elusive 50th win mark.

“We had a good strategy for race one. I got to the front that wasn’t the difficult bit; I just went straight out the back door as soon as I did!” said Byrne of his crash.

“I made a mess of the bike and the team did a fantastic job to get it all back together for race two.

“I got a good start in the second one and I wanted to win that race for the team and that was really important. The guys gave me a really tough day; so tough I fell down in race one.

“I enjoyed the battle with these guys, we want to fight and really go racing. I am happy to have ended today with a win before the triple header next at Oulton Park.”

Brookes was pleased to finally get across the line for a win but was puzzled at an overall lack of grip on what was an identical bike in the second race.

“Winning the first race felt really good; that goes without saying, although I do feel I’ve been riding as hard as the guys who have been winning all season,” he said.

“I try hard in every race, but more than anything I’m really proud of the team. At each round we keep making progress and I’ve also been trying to improve my riding.

“I was struggling for grip at the end of the race and had some big slides but we held on for the win. In the second race we never changed a thing on the bike, but I just had no grip; so what can I say.”

Lowes narrowed Byrne’s championship lead marginally after the Brands Hatch weekend, and a good overall haul by Brookes sees him close within a single point of Lowes.

The Supersport sprint race was won by Stuart Easton, who held off the advances of Alastair Seeley who finished second and Ben Wilson who was third.

The feature-length race saw Seeley turn the tables on Easton, grabbing a win back in a reversal of race results; Graeme Gowland rounded out the podium.

Jason O’Halloran put in a solid performance on his Samsung Honda and was the lead Aussie home in fifth on both occasions.

Billy McConnell finish the sprint and feature races in seventh, while Glen Richards was ninth and eighth across the contests respectively.

Seeley’s win sees him move 40 points clear of Easton in the race for the British Supersport title.

Superstock 1000 race victory went to Hudson Kennaugh, with Tommy Aquino second and Tristan Palmer third.

Luke Hedger won the Superstock 600 battle from Callan Cooper and James Lodge. It was another strong showing from the Aussies in the class, with Mark Wilkinson sixth and Levi Day ninth.

British Superbike Championship
Round Six – Brands Hatch GP, Kent
Superbike race one:
1. Josh Brookes
2. Alex Lowes
3. Ryuichi Kiyonari
4. James Westmoreland
5. PJ Jacobsen
6. Jon Kirkham
7. Dan Linfoot
8. Keith Farmer
9. Howie Mainwaring
10. Michael Rutter
14. Josh Waters (Aus)

Superbike race two:
1. Shane Byrne
2. James Ellison
3. Alex Lowes
4. Josh Brookes
5. Ryuichi Kiyonari
6. James Westmoreland
7. Jon Kirkham
8. PJ Jacobsen
9. Dan Linfoot
10. Keith Farmer
12. Josh Waters (Aus)

Click here for detailed results