Shane 'Shakey' Byrne claimed the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race win at Silverstone in an epic three-way scrap with Ryuichi Kiyonari and Josh Brookes with the lead changing six times on the final lap. The trio crossed the finish line separated by an incredible 0.368s.

The race started with pole-sitter Kiyonari leading into Copse for the first time ahead of Byrne and Brookes as the leading trio prepared for the most intense battle for the victory so far this season. Kiyonari was holding onto the lead until the sixth lap when the fireworks began between the leading Title Fighters at the Northamptonshire circuit.

Byrne went for his first move at Village to capture the lead as Brookes stalked Kiyonari in second position, but a lap later it was all change again as the trio all swapped places again. Byrne had been the leader until the trio hit Stowe but then Kiyo took the position and as Byrne went to fight back, Brookes moved to second. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider didn't sit in third place for long though as he was instantly on the attack and moved back ahead of his Australian rival a few corners later.

Kiyonari was desperately trying to break Byrne and Brookes but again the 'War for Four' continued to rage as the lead changed again with Byrne hitting the front on the ninth lap. Kiyonari was pushing hard and the next lap saw the positions change again as Kiyonari made a move at Copse, but Byrne was instantly back on him on the run to Becketts. The pair swapped positions again twice before the lap ended but as the pair fired across the line Kiyonari had regained the advantage.

Brookes was then on the move and on the 12th lap the trio shuffled again with Byrne taking the lead at Stowe before Brookes made a lunge on Kiyonari to move second at Village.

The race went down to the wire with the lead changing an incredible six times, but on the drag to the line Byrne held it by just 0.084s with Brookes in close contention to return to podium for the Milwaukee Yamaha team.

Dan Linfoot moved up the order to finish fourth for the Quattro Plant Kawasaki team as he held off Stuart Easton on the second of the Rapid Solicitors Kawasakis and Julien Da Costa on the Honda Racing Fireblade. Josh Waters was pushing the Frenchman all the way to the finish in seventh on the lone Tyco Suzuki after his team-mate John Hopkins crashed out unhurt. James Westmoreland, Peter Hickman and Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, race one result:
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.084s
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.368s
Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +17.952s
Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +18.524s
Julien Da Costa (Honda Racing UK) +18.572s
Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) +18.924s
James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +19.454s
Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves Honda) +19.490s
Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +20.387s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Silverstone race one:
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 612
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 595
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 552
Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) 537
Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 537
Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) 509



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