SHANE 'Shakey' Byrne took the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship race win of the day at Brands Hatch this afternoon after battling his way to the front of the field.
From the start of race one Shane dropped to 6th before recovering to 3rd within 3 laps to pull away with the leading trio.
Sykes was able to keep ahead of Crutchlow to take second. Michael Laverty was a faller on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS; he was lying in third but it was short lived when he crashed out at Druids on lap two.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race one results:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati)
2. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +1.855s
3. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +3.111s
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +3.887s
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +4.996s
6. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +15.815s
7. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +16.645s
8. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +26.446s
9. Simon Andrews (Lloyds British Jentin Racing) +30.384s
10. Tristan Palmer (Tena for Men Honda) +33.728s
