Kent’s Shane Byrne got straight back to winning ways in the British Supebikes at Assen just weeks after sustaining a shoulder injury.

Meanwhile, defending champion Tommy Hill’s start to the Showdown proved disastrous as he was sidelined from the first race by a incident on the grid following the sighting lap as he collided with a mechanic. He started from pitlane but was later forced to retire.

In the first race Byrne overcame the discomfort of his shoulder injury and the challenges of Samsung Honda’s Michael Laverty to power his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki to a fifth victory of the season ahead of Brookes with Alex Lowes a strong third for WFR Honda.

“I would be lying if I said the shoulder injury was a big problem but in two places where you change position on the bike quickly it kicked in, even so I was able to gap Josh and take the result. It is a great feeling and winning a race like this makes the pain go away for a while,” said Byrne.

Byrne led for much of race two but Brookes who had fought his way ahead of Laverty and Lowes after a bad start, was closing in and with three laps to go moved into the lead. Byrne responded going into the final lap as the race win went down to the wire but Brookes made a last gasp bid for the win at the left hander ahead of the chicane and then won the dash to the line.

“It was a good feeling to win that one. I got into the rhythm and was able to make the pass on Shakey but he came back on me and we were going at it for the win. I waited until the last corner before the chicane as that was my best chance, I made the apex clean and was delighted to get the win,” said Brookes.

Lowes was again third to claim his first double podium finish, ahead of Hill and Title Fighter Tommy Bridwell, who went one better than in the opening race, while Laverty struggled and finished seventh.

Race 1:

1. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +4.731s
3. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +4.881s
4. Luca Scassa (Padgetts Honda) +9.327s
5. Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) +10.024s
6. Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +11.026s

Race 2:

1. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki)
2. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.246s
3. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +3.018s
4. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +3.346s
5. Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +9.074s
6. Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) +9.140s

Championship Standings:

1. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 570
2. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 568
3. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 548
4. Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 534
5. Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 532
6. Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 521