JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison once again dominated from the very start of the final race at Brands, and bagged himself another lights-to-flag win to secure third in the overall MCE British Superbike championship standings.
The newly crowned champion, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne ended the final race of the season at the Kent track in third, with ePayMe Yamaha’s John Hopkins finding himself once again on the
rostrum in second.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam was just pipped to the post by rival, Byrne and on the last lap slipped back to fourth. His team-mate, Peter Hickman won the Riders Cup accolade, with a twelfth place finish.
Initially it was Ellison who got the hole-shot followed by Hopkins and a resurgent Kiyonari on the first lap, but after five laps the red flags appeared as James Rispoli’s R1 caught on fire at Hawthorns after a technical issue.
Then after a lengthy delay the race was then re-started over 10 laps, with no overtaking at Hawthorns. Haslam decided to go with the SC2 front and SC1 rear Pirelli’s, with Byrne on the softer front and rear compounds. All the front row opted for the harder front tyres.
When the race got underway for the second time, it was Ellison who once again got the hole-shot followed by Hopkins, Iddon and Haslam. Meanwhile there was a big fall for Smiths Racing’s Jakub Smrz at Sheene Curve on lap five.
With four laps remaining Haslam got the better of Iddon at Paddock Hill to put himself in podium contention. But then Haslam overtook Hopkins to go into second only to go wide, allowing Byrne through. At the flag Haslam finished in fourth, with Iddon completing the top five.
Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot sixth place finish meant that he missed out on securing third in the overall championship, and had to settle for fourth. It was a solid race for Kiyonari who crossed the line in seventh, with Bridewell, Mossey, Parkes, O’Halloran, Hickman, Seeley, McConnell and Cooper rounding off the points.
