Kent’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne had a double podium finishing weekend in the latest round of the MCE British Superbike Championship.

Having battled to be running up the front with a quick James Ellison all weekend, Shane took second place in a thrilling first place, and second place in a just as thrilling second race.

It means that going into the third round of the season at Oulton Park Shakey has a slender points lead over the impressive Ellison.

Byrne and Easton lined up in fifth for the opening 30-lap race around the demanding 1.2-mile Indy circuit and in the early stages occupied third place. Shakey looked like he’d have to settle for third as James Ellison and Ryuichi Kiyonari moved clear at the head of the pack.

However, a safety car period towards the end of the race bunched the pack up and Byrne took full advantage of a small mistake by Kiyonari to seize second on the final lap with Easton coming home in sixth.

Shakey, from Sittingbourne, started the second race from the front row whilst Easton was back on the third row and had a lot more work to do although he was soon up into fifth place. Just like the first race, Ellison assumed control but Shakey looked strong in second place and although another safety car period allowed him to close up to Ellison, he had to settle for another second place at the chequered flag.

Speaking after the weekend, Byrne said: “We were up against it a bit this weekend but I was feeling better in myself and with the bike although we still haven’t quite cracked it with the set-up. The team worked really hard throughout and we continued to make progress with the bike better in race one than it had been in qualifying.

“I was over the moon with second place and it allowed me to start the second race from the front row. I tried my absolute hardest and maybe if I’d got by Kiyo a little bit earlier, I might have been closer to James. As it was, I couldn’t get close enough but hats off to him and also to PBM and everyone in the team for doing such a great job this weekend.”

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