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Knockhill BSB: Byrne wins race one crash-fest

PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne held off challenges from Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty and local rider, Stuart Easton to take the opening MCE British Superbike race-one victory at a cloudy Knockhill.

A late charge from Laverty put him firmly into rostrum contention and he took the opportunity to dive underneath the PBM backed Kawasaki of Easton to take his first podium win of the season, with a second place finish, with the wee Haggis getting third.

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was in the top three in the field, only to be eaten up by Laverty and at the flag slipped back to fourth, with Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran completing the top five. But the move from Laverty on Brookes is now being investigated, due to some reports that the overtake could have been done on a yellow flag.

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Initially it was Easton who got the hole-shot, from Byrne and Brookes. But the reigning champ got the better of his younger team-mate going into the Taylor Hairpin to take the lead.

The first race turned into a bit of a crash-fest, as while fighting for a potential podium finish title fighters JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison, and Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari fell, in separate events at Clark’s on lap ten. Fortunately, both riders were declared OK at the trackside.

With a much diminished grid Laverty was able to get up to fifth and had O’Halloran as his target, and at Duffus Dip was able to get the better of the Aussie to go into fourth with nine laps remaining, but the Wales-based rider wasn’t done there, as he out paced his second Australian target, Brookes three laps later. On the penultimate rotation Laverty pushed ahead of local lad, Easton on the hairpin to go into second.

When the chequered flag appeared Brookes couldn’t find the extra speed to hit back at Easton and had to settle for fourth, from O’Halloran, Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan, Tyco BMW’s Tommy Bridewell, Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey, JG Speedft’s Westmoreland and RAF Reserves Peter Hickman.

There were other incidences and retirements during the opening race; both Bennetts Suzuki machines of Christian Iddon and Josh Waters retired to pits with technical issues. But it was Swedish rider Filip Backlund who brought the safety car out for three laps, after a big crash which left debris on the track.

Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot crashed unhurt at Clark’s on lap six of 30, and lost the front of his Fireblade. Minutes later Anvil Hire TAG Racing’s Richard Cooper fell in exactly the same spot. Team WD-40’s Jack Kennedy tumbled unhurt at the Taylor Hairpin, and a few laps later Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Howie Mainwaring did the same thing.

One rider who was missing from proceedings was Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Chris Walker. He experienced a big crash during a free practice session, and is battered and bruised and has taken advice from the medical staff, and will sit out the rest of the race weekend.

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