Shane Byrne claims his first double win of 2012

Shane Byrne claimed his first double win of the 2012 British Superbike Championship season as the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider again 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 Bryne wasn’t settling for second and he took the lead at Hawthorn on the opening lap. Laverty made an attacking move back at Stirling’s 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 the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider then crashed out at Sheene Curve as he hit a false neutral. 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 eleventh lap 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 as he tried a move around the outside and the pair were side-by-side on the run to Druids but again Byrne held onto the lead.

Byrne crossed the line to claim the double from Brookes with Hill again in third whilst Laverty held on to fourth position on the Samsung Honda with Noriyuki Haga claiming fifth to maintain his position inside the top six in the standings. Alex Lowes took a good sixth with Tommy Bridewell, Ian Lowry, Graeme Gowland and James Westmoreland rounding out the top ten.

Race two result
1 Shane Byrne (Kawasaki)
2 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)
3 Tommy Hill (Yamaha)
4 Michael Laverty (Honda)
5 Noriyuki Haga (Yamaha)
6 Alex Lowes (Honda)