Byrne aims for record wins

Despite already winning the BSB title, Monstermob Ducati’s Shane Byrne is still looking to take the double at Brands Hatch as he goes for a record number of wins in one season.

The Ducati rider topped the Friday practice session with a 46.13 lap showing that taking the title has in no way reduced his desire to win

He has already won 10 races this season, but to beat Niall McKenzie’s 1997 record of 13 wins in one season he will need to win all four races from the last two rounds.

Sean Emmet was the second fastest rider in the practice session coming in just 0.3 seconds slower than Byrne, with Rizla Suzuki rider John Reynolds, currently second in the championship, a further 0.3 seconds down in third.

Virgin Yamaha’s Gary Mason, and Hawk Kawasaki’s Glen Richards and Scott Smart filled the next three places with MotoGP rider Chris Burns on the Virgin Yamaha finishing with a seventh fastest time of 46.79.

Renegade Ducati’s Michael Rutter, John Reynold’s main rival for second place in the championship, crashed but was uninjured and managed to end the session on 46.85, just behind Burns.

Tom Sykes managed a staggering 11th fastest time of 46.98 on his debut ride on the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000. The British Supersport rider was offered the chance on the Suzuki at Brands after regular rider Yukio Kagayama was forced to sit out the rest of the season with a broken pelvis. Sykes had only ridden the bike for 45 minutes prior to the practice session.

Check back throughout the weekend for full updates from all the action at Brands Hatch.

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