Byrne's title-winning season ends with double victory
00:00, 16 October 2008
Shane Byrne enjoyed a victorious send off on his home track during Sunday’s final round of the British Superbike Championship.
Byrne won both races at Brands Hatch to end his title winning season on a high.
The Sittingbourne racer last week committed himself to the World Superbike Championship for 2009 and he ended his British challenge with a 100 point lead at the top of the standings.
Byrne’s win in race two came after slugging it out with championship runner-up Leon Haslam.
“That was one of my best races this year,” said the 31-year-old.
“All credit to Leon Haslam as he did a fantastic job in that race.
“I just want to thank everyone at GSE and Airwaves Ducati for everything this season. It was a great way to end the season and say goodbye to BSB for a while.”
Ashford’s Leon Camier also ended the season on a high after taking third place. He finished fifth in the overall standings.
Byrne’s Airwaves Ducati team-mate said: “I certainly had my ups and downs but to end the season on the podium is definitely how I wanted to do it.
“This has been one of my best racing years in my career and I am going to be back for more next season.”
Byrne had earlier won race one - his first victory in the championship since Round 6 at Mallory Park at the end of June.
He led Cal Crutchlow over the line while in third was James Ellison.
Maidstone’s Scott Smart had an afternoon to forget as he finished both races well down the order in 20th and 21st.
In the Supersport race Pembury’s James Webb finished sixth while Chris Northover, from Tonbridge, took a second in the first race of the Superstock 600 Championship.
He claimed a fourth place finish in race two and ended up third in the championship’s overall standings.