BSB: Byrne bounces back to take race two win

Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne bounced back from his crash in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Knockhill to claim victory in race two, scything his way through the pack before an intense scrap at the front of the field.

Dan Linfoot had initially hit the front of the pack from pole position ahead of John Hopkins on the opening lap, but the positions rapidly changed as Peter Hickman and Leon Haslam moved ahead of the American.

By lap three Hickman was hounding Linfoot and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider pulled a move at the Hairpin to take the lead. Linfoot instantly responded on the drag up over the line to start the next lap, repaying the move to head back into the lead.

As Linfoot and Hickman diced at the front, race one winner Haslam and Byrne had moved into third and fourth respectively and soon the ‘Pocket Rocket’ was trading blows with his team-mate ahead of him. Haslam first moved ahead of Hickman at the Hairpin with Byrne following him on lap seven.

Byrne then pulled a pass on championship leader Haslam, moving into second before both Byrne and Haslam took advantage of a mistake by Linfoot when he ran wide, pushing the Honda Racing rider back into third.

Haslam then claimed the lead from Byrne and the leading two riders in the standings then diced intensely for the advantage. Linfoot wasn’t done though and he moved back to the front of the trio with a decisive move on the 25th lap, however one lap later Byrne was back ahead.

Four-time champion Shakey then wasn’t giving an inch and he edged away as the battle for the final podium positions intensified. Linfoot stayed ahead of Haslam, but in the final three laps a hard-charging Ellison continued to move up the order, passing Haslam and then mugged Linfoot of second place at the line.

Hickman surged ahead to fourth in the closing laps ahead of Jason O’Halloran and Haslam who dropped to sixth. Richard Cooper continued his run of strong point scoring finishes in seventh ahead of Tommy Bridewell turned his weekend around to score an eighth place for Bennetts Suzuki.

Howie Mainwaring and Christian Iddon completed the top ten, but it was disappointment for John Hopkins and Glenn Irwin who both crashed out unhurt.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, race two result:

1. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
2. James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +1.831s
3. Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +2.034s
4. Peter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +3.961s
5. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +5.875s
6. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +6.764s
7. Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +17.529s
8. Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +25.522s
9. Howie Mainwaring (Smiths Racing BMW) +29.618s
10. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +29.937s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Knockhill:

1. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 128
2. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 115
3. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 94
4. Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) 93
5. James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 89
6. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 80