Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was victorious in the second MCE British Superbike race at Silverstone, and has now confirmed his place in the all important Showdown.
The race started off in dramatic fashion. It was Byrne who got the holeshot but on the opening lap there was a huge crash which saw Bennetts Suzuki’s Taylor Mackenzie experience a big fall at Becketts, with Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot and Smiths BMW’s Lee Jackson getting caught up in the melee. Mackenzie was taken to the medical centre and has broken his left foot.
A rotation later JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam crashed at Stowe. He was able to walk away from the fall, which looked like a huge high-side. But seconds before, in a separate incident race one winner, Glenn Irwin crashed at the same corner. He was also declared OK at the trackside. Even with the crash, Haslam has secured his place in the Showdown. He has hurt his arm slightly but will be fit for race three.
Further up the field and a lap later, the battle for the lead started to really hot up. First it was Byrne who led, and then Guintoli made a move at Vale, but only for Brookes to power on ahead on lap seven after a move at Club.
One rider who was making an impact from the very, very back of the grid was Ellison. Due to a technical infringement the R1 rider had to start from 25th, but on SC1 front and back tyres he appeared to excel and on lap eight was up to second after Guintoli slipped off the pace and he overtook Byrne.
But the crash-fest was unfortunately not over, as Reid and Jessopp crashed, with the young Irishman leaving the track on a stretcher and the safety car also came out as the medics attended Reid at the scene on lap six.
But the red flags appeared when Anvil Hire Yamaha’s Shaun Winfield’s engine went bang at Vale and the race came to an abrupt stop as there was an oil line on the track. A result was declared at the last active lap prior to safety car deployment, which meant Brookes, Ellison and Byrne were the top three finishers.
There were quite a few different tyre choices today. Brookes rode on the softer option Pirellis with Byrne riding on the soft front, but decided for the first time this year to run with the harder SC1 rear. When the result was declared Guintoli finished in fourth, followed by Showdown hopeful, O’Halloran, with Bradley Ray, Iddon, Hickman, Dixon and Hopkins completing the top ten. Bridewell, Mossey, Smrz, Westmoreland and Laverty were the last of the points finishers.
As it stands Byrne, Brookes, Haslam, Hickman, O’Halloran and Mossey are inside the top six, but Mossey and Dixon are tied on 176 points each, so the last race is all important in a few hours’ time. Luke Stapleford was a non-starter after he crashed during warm up this morning. He was riding in place of the crocked Billy McConnell who is recovering from injuries sustained after a big fall at Thruxton.
