BSB: Byrne crowned 2016 British Superbike Champion

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has been crowned 2016 MCE British Superbike Champion after a dramatic second race at Brands Hatch.

With rain falling until just ahead of morning warm-up, the cold conditions meant the track would not be completely dry for the opening BSB race of the day. There was just one dry line around the track meaning all riders would opt for slick tyres. 

The one-line circuit didn’t put off Leon Haslam, who started at the back of the grid after yesterday’s race one crash. Charging through the pack, Haslam was on the back of title rival Shane Byrne who got an average start from ninth on the grid in just a couple of laps.

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Forging ahead, it looked as though Haslam would do enough to keep the title fight alive until Byrne, who had fallen back to 12^th, began to fight through the pack. All the Ducati man had to do to take the title was finish behind Haslam, but as the JG Speedfit Kawasaki star continued to push on it became evident it wouldn’t be all that simple for Byrne. 

After getting past team-mate Glenn Irwin and Honda man O’Halloran, Byrne sat on Haslam’s tail for the rest of the race, opting not to make a move on the final lap with the pair crossing the line fifth and sixth respectively.

James Ellison took a dominant victory ahead a resurgent John Hopkins, while yesterday’s winner Peter Hickman completed the podium in third. 

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