Racing fans have had plenty to keep them entertained this bank holiday weekend in the form of MotoGP from Jerez and British Supebike action at a far wetter Oulton Park.
British Superbike Championship
It was yet another tale of one man dominating proceedings, at least during the start of the weekend. Shane Byrne arrived at Oulton Park fresh from a double victory in the opening round at Brands Hatch and was looking to build on the 50 points he’d already bagged.
Shakey. On it.
Race one got off to a bit of a false start with Simon Andrews crashing the only way he knows how, spectacularly, which caused a safety car to be brought out onto the circuit. The racing resumed on lap four and Byrne forged ahead as Ellison slipped past Brookes to take second place followed by Chris Walker, Stuart Easton and Tommy Bridewell.
As Shakey continued to lead, Walker crashed out on lap 7 on his recently rebuilt GB Moto Kawasaki which exploded in a ball of flames earlier in the weekend during an innocuous looking practice spill.
Yamaha rider Josh Brookes was on a real flyer in pursuit of Shakey and smashed Ryuichi Kiyonari’s 2006 lap record in the process. It wasn’t enough though and Byrne held out until the chequered flag for his third straight win in a row this season.
Shakey celebrating victory in race one
Race two saw a similar scene playing out with Australian Brookes and Shakey battling once again for the lead. Brookes was keen to put a stop to Byrne’s dominance and he did just that by pipping him to the finish with the roles reversed from race one.
It marked Brookes’ maiden win of the year after a battle for the lead saw him edge ahead of Byrne and maintain his lead to the chequered flag. Byrne was briefly caught by the Kawasaki of James Ellison who momentarily dropped Byrne back to third place but the Englishman quickly fought back and brought his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki home for a second place finish, maintaining his lead in the championship.
Race Two winner Josh Brookes
Race One – Results
1. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 30m.15.190s
2. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +0.105s
3. James Ellison GBR GBmoto Kawasaki ZX-10R +6.183s
4. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +8.781s
5. Stuart Easton GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +13.285s
6. Dan Linfoot GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-10R +19.139s
7. Richard Cooper GBR Anvil TAG Kawasaki ZX-10R +19.226s
8. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +23.030s
9. Jon Kirkham GBR Tsingtao WK Kawasaki ZX-10R +23.878s
10. Jakub Smrz CZE Millsport Ducati 1199 Panigale R +25.509s
11. Michael Rutter GBR Bathams BMW S1000RR +27.631s
12. Martin Jessopp GBR RidersMotorcycles.com BMW S1000RR +33.899s
13. Josh Waters AUS Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +33.985s
14. Patric Muff SUI Bathams BMW S1000RR +36.411s
15. Ben Wilson GBR Gearlink Kawasaki ZX-10R +36.489s
16. Ian Hutchinson GBR FXX Yamaha YZF-R1 +43.114s
17. Harry Hartley GBR Halsall Kawasaki ZX-10R +49.955s
18. Aaron Zanotti GBR AZ Suzuki GSX-R1000 +50.110s
19. Barry Burrell GBR WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R +51.644s
20. Jenny Tinmouth GBR TWR Honda CBR1000RR 1m 06.311ss
21. Shaun Winfield GBR Anvil TAG Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 09.674ss
22. Rhalf Lo Turco BRA SBK City Kawasaki ZX-10R + 1 lap
Not Classified
Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Buildbase BMW S1000RR 16 laps completed
John Hopkins USA Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 14 laps completed
Keith Farmer GBR PR Kawasaki ZX-10R 8 laps completed
Chris Walker GBR GBmoto Kawasaki ZX-10R 6 laps completed
Simon Andrews GBR RAF Reserves Honda CBR1000RR 0 laps completed
Peter Baker GBR Morello Services PBR Kawasaki ZX-10R 0 laps completed
Race Two – Results
1. Josh Brookes AUS Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 28m 50.237s
2. Shane Byrne GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +0.118s
3. James Ellison GBR GBmoto Kawasaki ZX-10R +4.892s
4. Stuart Easton GBR Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ZX-10R +11.841s
5. Tommy Bridewell GBR Milwaukee Yamaha YZF-R1 +14.415s
6. James Westmoreland GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR +20.894s
7. Dan Linfoot GBR Quattro Plant Kawasaki ZX-10R +21.606s
8. Chris Walker GBR GBmoto Kawasaki ZX-10R +23.506s
9. John Hopkins USA Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +29.872s
10. Jon Kirkham GBR Tsingtao WK Kawasaki ZX-10R +30.862s
11. Jakub Smrz CZE Millsport Ducati 1199 Panigale R +31.015s
12. Michael Rutter GBR Bathams BMW S1000RR +31.591s
13. Josh Waters AUS Tyco Suzuki GSX-R1000 +31.729s
14. Martin Jessopp GBR RidersMotorcycles.com BMW S1000RR +39.856s
15. Patric Muff SUI Bathams BMW S1000RR +40.119s
16. Ben Wilson GBR Gearlink Kawasaki ZX-10R +40.458s
17. Harry Hartley GBR Halsall Kawasaki ZX-10R +43.514s
18. Barry Burrell GBR WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R +58.124s
19. Aaron Zanotti GBR AZ Suzuki GSX-R1000 +1m 18.617s
20. Jenny Tinmouth GBR TWR Honda CBR1000RR 1m 20.133s
21. Shaun Winfield GBR Anvil TAG Kawasaki ZX-10R 1m 35.911s
22. Peter Baker GBR Morello Services PBR Kawasaki ZX-10R + 1 lap
23. Rhalf Lo Turco BRA SBK City Kawasaki ZX-10R + 1 lap
Not Classified
Richard Cooper GBR Anvil TAG Kawasaki ZX-10R 12 laps completed
Keith Farmer GBR PR Kawasaki ZX-10R 11 laps completed
Ian Hutchinson GBR FXX Yamaha YZF-R1 13 laps
Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Buildbase BMW S1000RR 16 laps completed