Double joy for Shakey!
 Airwaves
Ducati rider Shane Byrne claimed an awesome double victory
at Oulton Park this afternoon for round three of the Bennetts
British Superbike Championship to establish himself as the
early series leader. Despite difficult conditions in race
one, the former British Superbike Champion secured maximum
points at the Cheshire track.
As the riders lined up on the grid for the opening Bennetts
BSB race the heavens opened. Tom Sykes stormed into the lead
from the line but lost the front end at the first corner.
David Johnson, Guy Martin and Billy McConnell also slid off
leading to a red flag and re-started race. A fierce battle
played out between Byrne and Leon Haslam, with Haslam chipping
away at the lead on the final four laps. A grandstand finish
ensued, but Byrne hung on to claim the top step of the podium
for the second time this season. He was followed past the
chequered flag by Haslam and Leon Camier.
The second instalment proved equally nail-biting with Byrne
running off the track early on but recovering to fight his
way to fourth position. For the second consecutive weekend,
Haslam and Tom Sykes came together in a racing incident -
prematurely ending the race for both Bennetts BSB contenders
and leading to Haslam's disqualification from the race. Shakey
was propelled into second place before overtaking Crutchlow
for the race lead. Once again the red flag was waved as Dean
Ellison and Steve Mercer crashed out, but with two thirds
race distance completed the result was declared with Byrne
taking the spoils ahead of James Ellison and Camier.
Race one result:
1. S. Byrne 32:29.161; 2. L. Haslam +0.204; 3. L. Camier
+2.604
Race two result:
1. S. Byrne 21:13.862; 2. J. Ellison +4.247; 3. L. Camier
+8.027
Championship standings:
1. S. Byrne 95; 2. L. Camier 56; 3. C. Crutchlow 55; 4. M.
Rutter 54; 5. J. Ellison 46; 6. M. Laverty 37; 7. L. Haslam
33; 8. S. Easton 33; 9. T. Sykes 29; 10. T. Palmer 17
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