Shane 'Shakey' Byrne celebrated a double dose of victories in the opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown at Donington Park as his closest rival Leon Haslam crashed out of contention whilst battling to settle the score in the second race.

Haslam looked to have the edge off the line as the pack steamed into the Craner Curves for the first time, but his JG Speedfit Kawasaki team-mate James Ellison forced his way through with a determined move to take the lead.

Jason O'Halloran was denied the chance to try and make his race one podium a repeat performance when he crashed out at the old Hairpin when the pack concentinered up. The Australian clearly frustrated as he now drops to fifth place in the Showdown standings ahead of Assen.

At the front Ellison was holding off Haslam and Byrne, but the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team-mates were soon to swap positions when the ‘Pocket Rocket’ moved ahead on the seventh lap. Ellison was then under fire from Byrne, who a lap later forced his way ahead as he focused on Haslam ahead of him.

Haslam and Byrne were then scrapping at the front, but as the pair dived for the Melbourne Loop, Ellison pulled one of the most spectacular moves of the season to ride around the outside of the duelling pair.

Ellison led over the line but Haslam then moved back ahead in one of the most intense races of the season so far between the leading trio. Ellison was dropping down the order as he began to lose grip and Dan Linfoot took the advantage to move into third.

Haslam and Byrne were dicing at the front but then disaster struck the former championship leader when he crashed out at Redgate; clearly frustrated the local hero was forced to watch the remainder of the race from the sidelines and subsequently fall 27 points behind double winner Byrne with five races of the Showdown remaining.

Haslam’s crash then promoted Tyco BMW’s Iddon to third behind Linfoot as he returned to the podium for the first time since the second round.

The battle for fourth went to JG Speedfit Kawasaki with Peter Hickman leading Richard Cooper and Tommy Bridewell, who had a full-blow battle to the finish after Ellison dropped down the order to seventh. Luke Mossey, Billy McConnell and Glenn Irwin completed the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Race two result:

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +2.502s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +5.475s
Peter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +8.418s
Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +12.122s
Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +12.335s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +15.888s
Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +15.904s
Billy McConnell (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +24.166s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +24.614s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standing after Donington Park:

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 593
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 566
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 540
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 535
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 529
Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) 514