Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne put in two superb rides on the Be Wiser Ducati at Brands Hatch today to claim an emphatic double victory and take over the lead of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship.

Riding the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R, the five-times and defending champion from nearby Sittingbourne battled against the elements in the opening 20-lap race as rain threatened the Kent track but bounced back from ninth at one point to end up taking the lead with a couple of laps to go, when out came the red flags as a shower intervened.

The result provided Byrne with his 81st career win and 16th victory around the historic Grand Prix circuit and with it, claimed the championship lead for the first time this season as the series hit the halfway point.

Starting the second race from the front row, Shakey made a great getaway off the line and grabbed the lead on the opening lap before upping the lap record as he made his escape at the front. After early challenger Josh Brookes crashed out, Byrne never looked back, before going on to win by almost six seconds from James Ellison to make it four wins in a row after his double earlier this month at Snetterton.  Byrne also won the coveted King of Brands trophy for a second year in succession.

Speaking after a fantastic weekend, Byrne said: “The first race was a lot tougher than what I was hoping for but the safety car coming out did me a favour and I got going straightaway again. The bike had felt really good all weekend in the dry and we were able to prove that in the race so a big thank you to the team.

“The pace was even hotter in the second race and with a good start decided I had to get to the front as quickly as possible and go for it. Once I’d got the lead, I just tried to stay as consistent as possible and watched my pit board. I just kept my rhythm and concentration so to get the double is brilliant and we’re achieving just what we wanted to at our strong circuits.”

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