| Four-time MCE Insurance British Superbike champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne heads to his home round of Brands Hatch in Kent this weekend (17/18/19 April) as standings leader. However the PBM Kawasaki rider, who hails from nearby Sittingbourne, faces growing opposition from an international field of rivals ready to beat him in his back yard.
Byrne was victorious in race two at the Donington Park season opener after an intense battle with Dan Linfoot, as the 2013 title-winning Honda Racing team returned to the grid. James Ellison grabbed the win in race one after fending off Byrne for the duration.
Byrne said: “It doesn’t seem like five minutes ago I was thinking about if I could even ride at the Donington Park test before the first round after my injury, so Donington exceeded any expectations I did have. To come away with a second place and a win, knowing that I can only get stronger as my injury improves, means I am quietly confident of achieving more of the same at Brands Hatch.
“I am not going to lie, I am still really rusty and because of that I was making rookie mistakes in the races at Donington, but I know that it is going to be even closer on the Indy circuit, so we will be doing everything possible to try and have a repeat performance – if not one better this weekend!”
Ellison said: “Brands Hatch is going to be so important to qualify on the front two rows because the times are going to be much closer because of the short lap. The Indy circuit closes everyone up so small mistakes cost you more, but we are ready. Last year we were happy to leave the first round with podiums and now we are coming off podiums from the last three rounds if you include Silverstone and Brands Hatch last year. Now anything but a win is not good enough, we wanted them at Donington and I still feel like we had something in reserve if we needed it. I can’t wait!”
The Donington Park race winners have an uphill battle if they are going to achieve a repeat performance; 26-year-old Linfoot came agonisingly close to scoring his first race win in MCE BSB at Donington Park, whilst Josh Brookes and the new Milwaukee Yamaha proved they are going to be a force to be reckoned with after a debut podium.
Triple champion Ryuichi Kiyonari endured a disappointing weekend despite setting the pace in free practice and qualifying at Donington Park; a 14th position and a crash has left the Japanese ace determined to make amends at Brands Hatch this weekend.
Kiyonari said: “I couldn’t believe the races at Donington Park, especially after practice and qualifying. We had tried hard in every session to have a good pace for the race and then we didn’t have good results and I was disappointed. I want to fight again for podiums and for wins. I know I have to get podiums at Brands Hatch after not having good results at Donington Park. This makes me want to try even harder this weekend.”
Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW), Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki), Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) and the Tyco BMW pairing of Michael Laverty and Tommy Bridewell are all set to be in the mix on the 1.2-mile Indy circuit. Essex youngster Danny Buchan and Chris Walker riding for 2011 champion Tommy Hill’s Be Wiser Kawasaki team should also be in the hunt for podiums.
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