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Byrne off to flying start in Superbikes championship

09:33, 21 April 2008

Shane Byrne celebrates winning race one at Thruxton. Picture: Andy Payton
Shane Byrne celebrates winning race one at Thruxton. Picture: Andy Payton

Kent's Shane Byrne won race one and came second in race two during the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton on Sunday.

It was also a good day for Byrne's Airwaves Ducati team-mate Leon Camier, from Ashford, who started his season well with a fourth and fifth place finish.

In the first of the two 20-lap races, Byrne, from Sittingbourne, had dropped a few places from his pole position start but moved through the field, taking the lead on lap 13.

He pulled away in the final laps to take his first win for the Airwaves Ducati team. Having struggled early on in the race, Camier was in fifth by lap 15 and he held off a number of challenges to cross the line in a hard fought fifth place.

An early red flag in race two resulted in a race restart and a new race distance of 15 laps.

Following a poor start Byrne worked his way through to third position. In a close battle, he managed to overtake Rutter on lap 13 to finish in second.

Camier put in some impressive laps as he attempted to chase down the leading pack, finishing in a comfortable fourth place.

Following race two an upbeat Camier said: "It’s been a good start to the season for me.

"It was a realistic result for me, considering my injuries and everything that has happened, and now we have gathered some really valuable information for the next race which is something I had been lacking.

"I am going to go away and work on getting fitter and stronger and look forward to Oulton Park;.It's a circuit I like and I think I can achieve a good result.”

Byrne leaves Thruxton as a race winner and joint championship leader.

He said: “I’m happy with race one but I am gutted that I didn’t get the win in race two.

"Race one was great and everything went to plan, credit must go to the Airwaves Ducati team as my bike has felt good all weekend and I knew I was capable of a winning performance.

"I am pleased with the first and second but I would have been happier if I had got a better start after the red flag and not let Cal Crutchlow (race two winner) get away from me.

"I had been leading before that so I reckon I was on for a double win but these things happen and I am really pleased to be leaving Thruxton as championship leader; bring on Oulton Park.”

Round three of the British Superbike Championship takes place at Oulton Park from May 3-5.

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