Byrne best at Knockhill

Shane Byrne will be celebrating following a win and a second place at round eight of the British Superbike championship at Knockhill.

The Rizla Suzuki team took the decision to run just one bike at the Scottish track following injuries to James Haydon, and then the theft of Byrne’s two bikes at the Croft official BSB test. But it seems that the recovered bikes have fired up the former British champion.

The first race was won by Ryuichi Kiyonari from Byrne as the fastest pair in practice Leon Haslam and Jonathan Rea, took third and fourth. Haslam had led from the start and lasted until lap 25 when Kiyonari outbraked him into the first turn. In an attempt to come back at the hairpin, Haslam outbraked himself, allowing Byrne through. but it was still a better day than that of team-mate and title leader Gregorio Lavilla who ran wide at the hairpin, and then had to stop to reset his bike with an electrical fault. Rejoining in 23rd place, he recovered to finish 11th.

The second race saw Byrne take the win from a jubilant Jonathan Rea. Leon Haslam again took third, closing the championship gap on his Ducati team-mate. Tommy Hill took fourth from Michael Laverty, Karl Harris and Scott Smart. Glen Richards, Craig Coxhell and Michael Rutter rounded out the top ten as both Gregorio Lavilla and Ryuichi Kiyonari failed to finish.

In the British Supersport race Cal Crutchlow took the tin for Northpoint Ekerold Honda as pole sitter Eugene Laverty missed the race due to a hand injury from qualifying.

It was Tom Sykes who led until lap seven, when Crutchlow was able to catch and pass. From then Crutchlow was chased hard by Sykes and Leon Camier until backmarkers held up Sykes. When Camier tried to capitalise, he lost the front end of his Honda and wiped Sykes out at the same time.

In the end, second went to Dennis Hobbs on the Padgetts Honda, with third for Ian Lowry, following a 20 second jump start penalty for Jamie Robinson, who finished thinking he;d made the podium. Sean Emmett made a good Supersport debut with fourth on the Lloyds British Ducati.