IN
THE
WIND
P26
BROOKES, BYRNE SPLIT BSB WINS
M
ilwaukee Yamaha's Josh
Brookes broke three-time
British Superbike Champion
Shane Byrne's run of winning
form by claiming a victory in the
second round of the MCE Insur-
ance British Superbike Champi-
onship at Oulton Park on Monday.
The two riders had been in-
separable throughout the week-
end with Byrne adding to his
winning tally in the opening race
aboard his Rapid Solicitors Ka-
wasaki, though under sustained
pressure from Brookes in the
closing stages.
Byrne made the break with
Brookes ever so close with
James Ellison aboard the Lloyds
British GBmoto Kawasaki in third,
before the Aussie re-established
himself in second place, better-
ing the lap record set in 2006, to
cross the line only .105 of a sec-
ond behind Byrne.
"The gap to Josh started com-
ing down, but I didn't want to
make a mistake, or let up at all
or dangle a carrot to him and for-
tunately I did just enough to hold
him off to win," Byrne said.
Brookes had the pole start for
the second race and he made
the perfect get-away though By-
rne was in close contention and
on the second lap they swapped
places twice in one corner, but
Brookes maintained his posi-
tion at the front. The Australian
was coming under fire from the
former champion but he held off
Byrne twice as he made moves
for the lead.
It was a first victory
for Brookes since
joining the Yamaha
team and it came by
just.118 of a second.
"I don't know
when I last led a
race from start to fin-
ish," Brookes said.
"Shakey [Byrne]
came past early on
and I had to fight back quickly
as I didn't want to let him go. I
made a fairly daring move to get
him back and then twice at Island
Bends he came back at me, but I
thought you will have to do better
than that!"
Byrne settled for second
but holds his lead in the over-
all standings ahead of the next
round at Snetterton.
Ellison had continued his con-
sistent run, having claimed third-
place finishes in each of the four
races so far.
Californian John Hopkins had
a DNF and a ninth in the two rac-
es on his Tyco Suzuki. In British
Supersport action, James Rispo-
li ended up 12
th
on his Team Trac-
tion Control Suzuki.
Josh Brookes split wins
with Shane Byrne in
the second round of
the British Superbike
Series at Oulton Park.