Shane 'Shakey' Byrne ended the opening free practice sessions at the top of the times at Brands Hatch as the season finale of the 2015 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship got underway today with standings leader Josh Brookes just 0.188s adrift in third place.

The damp session saw positions change constantly at the top of the times as Howie Mainwaring became the leading Showdown spoiler by setting the initial pace before the title contenders Brookes and Byrne both knocked him from the top.

Mainwaring returned with a stronger run and he moved back to the top but James Ellison on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki then had a leap up the timesheets as he fired himself ahead in the second half of the session.

Byrne then made a comeback and as he punched his way to the fastest time of the session in the final minute, Brookes also made strides forward to move third with Mainwaring splitting the pair at the chequered flag.

Ellison held fourth place from Richard Cooper who moved up the order for the Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki team with Jakub Smrz pushing ahead of Michael Laverty on the Tyco BMW and the Bennetts Suzuki of Josh Waters.

John Hopkins and the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team made it five manufacturers in the top ten with Luke Mossey holding tenth position.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Free Practice two result:

1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 1:37.749
2: Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.100s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.188s
4: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.243s
5: Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +0.675s
6: Jakub Smrz (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.697s
7: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.892s
8: Josh Waters (Bennetts Suzuki) +1.138s
9: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +1.198s
10: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Tec-care Kawasaki) +1.238s