Snetterton BSB: Byrne takes race one as Brookes and Ellison scrap for second

Shane Byrne has taken a dominating win in the first MCE British Superbike race at Snetterton, leading from start to finish and winning by over four seconds, after a late charge from Josh Brookes failed to materialise into a threat.

Brookes spent the race dicing with James Ellison for second, after Byrne escaped following an opening four laps spent behind the safety car, after Julien Da Costa took out Jakub Smrz on the first turn.

The Australian was able to make a move past Ellison in the closing stages before breaking clear and closing down Byrne, but, admitting afterwards that he was riding right at the limit, Brookes made a mistake on the last lap and ran onto the gravel, allowing Byrne clear to take the win.

Tommy Bridewell was an excellent fourth on the second of the Milwaukee Yamahas, running with the leaders in the opening stages of the race for the first time this season. Fifth was Ryuichi Kiyonari, who was able to get past Dan Linfoot before the Kawasaki rider was swept up by Chris Walker with an audacious pass.

Speaking at the end of the sixteen lap race, Byrne said: “I got a good start, and wanted to be at the front, but it was difficult trying really hard to preserve my rear tyre in the opening five or so laps. Initially it worked, but the guys caught me up again and I had to work to get the gap up again. I was able to settle back into my rhythm, and had tyres left in reserve for the end of the race.”