JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison stormed to another MCE British Superbike victory to bag his debut double career win at the Brands Hatch Indy circuit. The Kendal rider has never won two races in the class before, and neither has his team.
In a repeat of the first race the Kawasaki man led from the opening lap and never looked back. But it was a case of déjà vu on the podium, as PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne and Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes ended the race in second third place respectively. Kiyonari was at the sharp end for most of the outing, but couldn’t match the pace of the ZX-10R and the R1.
Towards the end Brookes was edging ever closer to Byrne, and before the final corner it looked like both riders were neck and neck, but the PBM bike won out, but couldn’t catch the machine of Ellison.
Initially it was Ellison who got the hole-shot followed by Kiyonari and Byrne. On the third rotation Ellison smashed his own earlier lap record – with a 45.212. By lap seven Ellison and Kiyonari had a one second advantage over duelling duo Byrne and Brookes.
But the home town rider, Byrne was not giving up the chase, and coming out of the Brabham Straight got into the slip-stream of Kiyo to go into second. But the BMW man went wide at Paddock Hill allowing Brookes to take advantage of his mistake to slot into third.
But the safety car came out a lap later, after Morello Racing’s Dan Johnson crashed at Clearways, but soon the green flags were back out with eight laps remaining, and the Reading racer was taken to the medical centre. When the chequered flag did appear at the end of the 25 lap race, Kiyonari and PBM Kawasaki’s Stuart Eaton completed the top five.
Tyco BMW’s Tommy Bridewell stayed on his bike, and finished the race to cross the line in sixth, followed by a solid race by Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Howie Mainwaring and Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan. Smiths BMW’s Billy McConnell and Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran rounded up the top ten.
RAF Reserves BMW’s Peter Hickman was feeling a tad black and blue after his race one high side but managed to hold on to make it into 14th, with Anvil Hire TAG Racing’s Richard Cooper finishing the race in the final points spot, in 15th. Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty did start strongly but fell off the pace and finished the final BSB outing of the day in 19th.
