Shane Byrne wraps up 2014 BSB Title at Brands Hatch finale
Shane “Shakey” Byrne became the most successful rider in the history of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship celebrating the title for a record fourth time at Brands Hatch.
The Rapid Solictors Kawasaki rider bounced back from a crash in Saturday’s opening race, which was won by Howie Mainwaring, with a double win in the final two races at the Kent circuit, taking his career victory tally to 61 in the series.
Byrne sealed the title in the first of the Sunday races, when his rival Ryuichi Kiyonari was forced to withdraw after fracturing his collarbone in a crash from his Buildbase BMW in the damp free practice session on Saturday.
Kiyonari had extensive treatment in an last ditch attempt to race, but was forced to withdraw. However Byrne had a far from easy time as he started from the third row of the grid, running tenth on the opening lap, before fighting to lead at half distance to take the win by two seconds from Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki’s James Ellison.
After his first race win, Byrne said: “I would have dearly loved for Kiyo to be out there with me and to try and fight with him over these three races. That said, I never made him fall down, you know I fell down yesterday and it could have gone either way. Guys were treating the first and second corners like they were the last lap of the race and sort of shoving and barging and I thought blimey, ‘let’s just try and get round the first lap’. I managed to bring the bike home and we won so I think it’s a fitting way to take the title with a double win and I’m absolutely over the moon.”
Byrne believed that he owed it to Kiyonari to complete the double and again he had a fight on his hands, especially in the early stages. “It was getting a bit crazy but I tried to lead with a strong pace. I really wanted to win as to me the only way of justifying the title was to complete the double. That gave me the extra drive to make the title so real.”
Ellison was again second with Tommy Bridewell taking third place, enough to give him third place in the overall standings ahead of his Milwaukee Yamaha team-mate Josh Brookes who finished fifth, adrift of Stuart Easton.
Brookes said: “I was really pleased with my riding really I felt like that I’ve rode as good as I could, even in the second race. It probably didn’t show that well but I was riding hard, but the bike was everywhere. I feel like this weekend for some reason I’ve been underpowered, performance wise, even the slipstream with Tommy I didn’t make any ground and that was a real hindrance on my progress.
“My results suffered but I feel like I was riding well and so I’m happy with that. I’m a bit disappointed that the year’s over and not over for good reasons, but that’s why I’m coming back next year to make it right and do it another time and try and put things right for myself. In my head I know I’m a champion and capable of it, just I need to come back next year and prove it.”
Bridewell said: “When I look back on the whole season it’s been a massively emotional year. We went to Cartagena testing and we were really strong, and I thought this is going to be a good season. Then at Brands Indy we were running round in like eighth and ninth or something so it wasn’t easy, but I just tried to keep quiet and keep focussed and do my training as I always have. But my mental preparation sort of finally started coming back around.
“I started feeling I was the stronger rider in the team; it definitely encouraged me even more and pushed me a lot harder. I just enjoyed the season, it’s been emotional, and it’s been very, very difficult at times. But coming into this last round, fighting for third in the championship was massive for me, from what I’ve gone through. I can always remember Mallory after my brother was killed and all these years down the line I’m sat here, third in the British Championship next to Shakey, who’s won four, and Kiyo who’s won three, what amazing company!
“That is credit to everyone who’s supported me and kept my head up as I have never given up. In that race it was all or nothing. I was losing the front, I was losing the rear, I was sideways, here, there and everywhere! I was just thinking ‘God, I don’t know what more I can do, but that was enough, and that was all I needed to do. It has been a fantastic season and I thoroughly enjoyed it.”
Ryuichi Kiyonari’s fractured collarbone ended his aspirations of a record-breaking fourth title. The triple champion admitted it was hard decision not to race.
Kiyonari said: “I’m feeling not too bad but my shoulder is very painful still. Yesterday was more difficult, last night I was sleeping very good, like nearly 10 hours no problem. But every time I woke up, I would remember that I made a very bad mistake and thought of many things, so last night was very hard. Yesterday was just hard.
“My shoulder is painful and it was very hard to decide what to do, it has been a hard time. It was not a nice decision, riding or not riding. In the morning warm up I tried to ride but the conditions were not so good, then the next one, no, and then Shakey won the championship. This season has been unbelievable and every race I have enjoyed so I’m happy with that. The finish was unbelievable, I still can’t believe it as it was not good – but I enjoyed this season.”
Billy McConnell wrapped up the British Supersport Championship and we will bring you further on that in a separate piece when time permits.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race two result:
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
- James Ellison (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +1.904s
- Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +2.095s
- Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +2.253s
- Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +3.922s
- Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +4.152s
- Jon Kirkham (Halsall Biker Gear Kawasaki) +4.875s
- Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +7.7.527s
- James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +9.188s
- John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +9.278s
Motul British Motostar Championship
Joe Irving took the victory on his Redline KTM to underline his runner-up position in the Moto3 standings after he had fought through from the eighth row of the grid due to a bike issue in qualifying. He took the lead on the fourth lap after Bradley Ray had crashed his FAB EE125GP. Ed Rendell already assured of the 125GP crown, took second place as Taz Taylor stopped with a last lap problem. Jayson Uribe on the Moto3 FPW Honda took third ahead of Repli-Cast Moto3 rider Charlie Nesbitt while Arnie Shelton and Georgina Polden were second and third in the 125GP category
Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship
Jason O’Halloran snatched an amazing victory in a closely-fought final round to take his second win of the season. The Australian had been in third place going into the final lap but he hounded down Hudson Kennaugh, forcing his Honda ahead going through Clearways and then snatching the victory by inches from the champion Danny Buchan, who had started at the back of the grid.
Pirelli National Superstock 600 Championship
Kyle Ryde held off fierce title rival Andy Reid on a last lap thriller to take the victory and with it the crown. The race had been about three riders who had started the day separated by four points – Reid, Ryde and Joe Collier were alongside him on the front row. Reid made the break, but an error on the third lap let Ryde through to lead. Collier then forced his way in front but Ryde had the final say, regaining the advantage on the penultimate lap and then defending his lines holding off Reid by a third of a second ahead of Collier. Ryde took the crown ahead of Collier and Reid who ended level on 189 points.
TriStar R&G Triple Challenge
Scott Pitchers held off the race long challenges of champion Freddy Pett to win Sunday’s final race of the series. Earlier in the weekend the rider from Lower Compton had run third as Pett took the penultimate victory of the campaign ahead of Tom Carne.
Final British Superbikie standings:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 682
2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 620
3: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 587
4: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 584
5: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 577
6: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 525
