BSB: Brookes takes win in red-flagged second race

Published: 10 September 2017

1 of 1

Josh Brookes took victory in a red-flagged second MCE British Superbike race at Silverstone ahead of James Ellison and Shane Byrne.

It was a dramatic affair from the word go with a big crash involving Taylor Mackenzie, Lee Jackson and Dan Linfoot at Maggotts and the incidents would keep on coming as title contender Leon Haslam slid off at Stowe to clock up his second DNF of the weekend.

At the front a rejuvenated Sylvain Guintoli took the lead for Bennetts Suzuki, scrapping with showdown riders Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes but it was McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison on a charge.

Having started at the back of the grid after copping a grid penalty for changing gearbox ratios, Ellison sliced through the field in the first third of the race to join the battle for the lead by the time the safety car came out on lap eight following an incident involving Andy Reid and Martin Jessopp.

As the lights went out on the BMW M2 signalling the restart of the race, the second Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha of Shaun Winfield went pop down the Hangar straight to bring out the red flag.

TOP STORIES

While two thirds distance had been completed, the result was declared from the lap before the safety car came out, placing Brookes first ahead of Ellison and Byrne.

Guintoli managed to clock his best result of the year in fourth ahead of Honda’s Jason O’halloran while young gun Bradley Ray rounded out the top six.

Christian Iddon was seventh ahead of Peter Hickman with Jake Dixon and John Hopkins completing the top ten.

The result sees Haslam, Brookes and Hickman join Shane Byrne as being confirmed in the Showdown six, leaving just two spots for Jason O’Halloran, Luke Mossey, Jake Dixon and Christian Iddon to fight for in the final race of the weekend.

Have a browse for your next bike on MCN Bikes For Sale website or use the MCN’s Bikes For Sale App.

By Oli Rushby

Former sports reporter covering British Superbikes, World Superbikes and road racing