Double glory for Byrne at Brands Hatch (From News Shopper)

Double glory for Byrne at Brands Hatch

4:03pm Tuesday 24th July 2012 in Sport

SHANE ‘Shakey’ Byrne claimed his first double win of the British Superbike Championship season to a rapturous home crowd at Brands Hatch as the Kawasaki rider held off a hard-charging Josh Brookes.

Michael Laverty again had a characteristic flying start to the race onboard the Samsung Honda to lead on the opening lap from Byrne and Brookes, but race one winner ‘Shakey’ wasn’t settling for second and he took the lead at Hawthorns on the opening lap.

Laverty made an attacking move back at Stirlings but Byrne got the drive back into the arena to have the lead into Clearways.

Tommy Hill was running fifth on the opening lap from his second row start and he made a move on Stuart Easton at Surtees to move fourth on the Swan Yamaha, but Kawasaki rider Easton then crashed out at Sheene Curve.

Two laps later and Hill was up to third with a move on the inside into Paddock Hill Bend on Laverty as he then closed in on Byrne and Brookes.

Byrne and Brookes were locking horns for the lead and the Australian had a good drive to Druids on the 11th lap as he aimed to mug the Kawasaki rider for the lead but the double champion defended hard to hold the position.

Two laps later and Byrne ran wide on the exit of Paddock Hill Bend and Brookes looked set to hit the front of the field.

The pair were side-by-side on the run to Druids but again Byrne held onto the lead to seal his second victory of the weekend.

Hill claimed a double third position while Laverty held on to fourth position on Samsung Honda with Noriyuki Haga claiming fifth to maintain his position inside the top six in the standings as Alex Lowes ended sixth.

The battle for seventh was a repeat performance of the fight for the title last season as Tommy Bridewell crossed the line onboard the Supersonic BMW just 0.001s ahead of Ian Lowry on the Padgett's Honda.

WFR Honda's Graeme Gowland and James Westmoreland completed the top 10.

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