The start of the title showdown didn’t go quite according to plan for Kent’s Shane Byrne this weekend as the MCE British Superbike Championship headed to Assen.

In a fantastic race one Shane finished in second place after trading places with Alex Lowes on more than one occasion.

Race two didn’t go so well for Shane who was knocked off the track by Alex Lowes as he looked to make a move on Shakey who was in the lead at the time.

Shakey hit the ground hard and skidded off into the gravel trap and needed a bit of help getting up from the marshals before heading off for a check-up in the medical centre.

In race one Shakey got off the line the fastest of all the drivers as he has always does but he couldn’t hold the lead of the race as both Alex Lowes and James Ellison nipped past.

It was cut and thrust from there as all three riders traded places as the eighteen lap race unfolded, and Shakey waited to make his move.

That move came just a few laps from home as he sped past Ellison, Lowes then waited his turn and took Byrne on the penultimate lap. Then on the final lap the lead changed hands at least twice before Lowes took the win.

Speaking after race one, Shakey said: “That race was absolutely fantastic though the outcome for me was not perfect, finishing second but races like that are what we live for and I am just pleased to have been part of it. I am disappointed to have lost the race obviously.

“Alex came past me, I got him back but he was back again; it just went on like that and it was a lot of fun and a good race.  It was a great last lap and naturally like I say I was disappointed to come out second but we will try again for a different story in race two.”

At the start of race two Shakey flew off the line and was into the lead and looking to pull away at the front and ensure he took victory.

He held that lead until lap three when Alex Lowes saw a gap that probably wasn’t there and made a move up the inside of Shane.

The Samsung Honda rider clipped the back of the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki which sent Shane off into the gravel along the ground.

Lowes then went on to win the race ahead of James Ellison although the incident involving Shane and Alex was under investigation at the end of the race.

Following that investigation Alex Lowes was subsequently excluded from the race and the win therefore goes to James Ellison.

Shakey now leads Lowes by one point going into the Silverstone round of the showdown in ten days’ time.