Despite an ankle injury, Honda's young-gun holds off Shakey to win under a red flag
CAL Crutchlow took a another victory for HM Plant Honda in a dramatic second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race of the day at Brands Hatch.
Crutchlow, who at the start of this week didn't even know whether he would be racing here after he sustained an ankle injury last weekend at Oulton Park, held on in the final stages to take his second win of the season after the race was red flagged on lap 19.
The final BSB race was dramatic from start to finish with Leon Haslam leading the pack on the HM Plant Honda from Crutchlow, Tom Sykes and Shane Byrne. Haslam looked like he was going to edge out an advantage over his injured team-mate but on lap nine Haslam overshot the corner at Surtees and rejoined in 13th.
On lap 14 the Audi safety car was deployed when Malcolm Ashley had a heavy fall at Hawthorns. The race was restarted on lap 19 and the race distance increased to 23 laps, with Crutchlow leading Sykes, Byrne and the second Airwaves Ducati of Leon Camier. However the race was red flagged on the same lap when Sykes' Rizla Suzuki blew up at Pilgrims Drop, throwing the unlucky racer into the gravel at Hawthorns Bend.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race two result:
1. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda)
2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.110s
3. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +0.748s
4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +2.221s
5. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +2.906s
6. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +3.097s
7. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +3.121s
8. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +4.147s
9. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +1 lap
10. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) + 1 lap
