Byrne takes clear win - and title lead - at Snetterton

Shane Byrne has taken the win in the first MCE British Superbike race of the day – and the championship lead with it, after a disastrous race for his title rivals. Josh Brookes was the only man able to match him, closing down an early lead but unable to bridge the gap to Byrne.

Byrne was able to make an early break-away, while Brookes, after a disastrous start, was left to pick his way forwards past first Tommy Bridewell and then an excellent ride from fellow Aussie Jason O’Halloran.

However, despite closing down Byrne’s lead from over six seconds to only two and a half at the end, he was unable to make it any closer, with O’Halloran rounding out the podium.

It wasn’t such a good race for James Ellison, riding a totally rebuilt bike that didn’t make morning warm-up after yesterday’s qualifying crash. Suffering first from badly bedded brakes, a stretching chain jumping off the sprocket eventually brought and end to his race.

It was also disappointment for Michael Laverty, who suffered first from engine braking problems and then the bike going off a cylinder despite running in the top six, while Ryuichi Kiyonari, a victim of a duff rear tyre, also had a disaster, finishing in nineteenth.