Josh Brookes has secured his first MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title today (Saturday) at Brands Hatch as the Australian won the opening race of the triple-header weekend from Shane 'Shakey' Byrne in an epic dogfight between the pair on the Grand Prix circuit.

At the start of the race Brookes fired off the pole position into the lead from Danny Buchan and Byrne, but the defending champion had moved up to second at Druids and then had his arch rival in his sights.

The pair were inseparable and Byrne was instantly trying to attack, however he had to wait until the third lap to make a move down the inside at Surtees with just 0.2s covering the pair as they crossed the line.

The tension continued for the next laps then on lap five Brookes made his move to regain the lead, but two corners later Byrne bit back to reclaim the position. As they crossed the line Byrne held the advantage but Brookes was planning his next move and after several attempts on the eighth lap he pulled a pass at Stirlings but Byrne instantly responded with a move around the outside at Clearways.

Byrne was defending hard from but on the twelfth lap Brookes moved ahead at Stirlings and then he set about extending an advantage. The Milwaukee Yamaha rider crossed the line first to claim his first title with Byrne second but behind the pair it was an incredible result for the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team as John Hopkins claimed them their first podium finish after running with the leading pair in the first half of the race.

Christian Iddon was to repeat his best result of the season in fourth place after a dynamic race saw him move up the order for Bennetts Suzuki after big battles with James Ellison, Luke Mossey and Buchan, whilst Lee Jackson surged through to fifth over the final stages of the race.

Ellison held sixth from Mossey as Buchan dropped back to eighth place, holding off Michael Laverty and Jakub Smrz ahead of tomorrow's two races.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race one result:

Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +2.583s
John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +2.746s
Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) +4.033s
Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +8.047s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +8.993s
Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +9.002s
Danny Buchan (PBM Kawasaki) +9.662s
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +10.105s
Jakub Smrz (Milwaukee Yamaha) +10.370s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch race one:

Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 678
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 626
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 583
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 560
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 537
Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) 536