Snetterton BSB: Byrne holds off Lowes for victory

Shakey Byrne has held off race one winner Alex Lowes to take victory in today’s second BSB race at Snetterton.

Pole man Alex Lowes had a dreadful start, allowing Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes to take the lead. However, a huge accident involving Jon Kirkham and Robin Harms on the exit of Williams saw Harms’ bike explode in flames and brought out the safety car, bringing the field back together.

It took until the start of lap 5 for the incident to be cleared and the safety car to be brought in, with Byrne controlling the start to give himself the ideal chance to pull a small gap. However, James Ellison was the victim of the restart, with an overheating bike dropping him from 3rd to 15th.

The leading trio of Byrne, Brookes and Lowes were able to immediately gap the chasing pack by over 2 seconds. Behind them, Ryuichi Kiyonari was able to squeeze past James Westmoreland and Chris Walker to take fourth place.

The first breat to the high speed rhythym was on lap 11, when Brookes was forced onto the grass after leaving his braking too late, demoting himself back to third and leaving Lowes to challenge Byrne for the win.

However, despite a valiant effort the Samsung Honda rider was unable to get near the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki of Byrne, who held him off to the line. Brookes, slowing in the closing laps, helf off Kiyonaro to finish third, some 6 seconds adrift.

James Westmoreland was fifth, ahead of race one retiree Chris Walker and Milwaukee Yamaha racer Josh Waters.

Ellison eventually make it home just behind Dan Linfoot in ninth, taking valuable points.