Shane Byrne bounced back from an early error in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship race at
Oulton Park to secure his first double victory since his 2003 championship winning campaign.
Byrne made a mistake at Britten's in the early stages but was able to storm back through the pack to secure a somewhat unexpected win in a race shortened by a red flag.
At the start, Tom Sykes made the best getaway on his Rizla Suzuki to lead into Old Hall for the first time, with Cal Crutchlow settling into second place ahead of HM Plant team-mate Leon Haslam. Michael Rutter held fourth after battling ahead of Byrne, with James Ellison rounding out the top six.
On the second lap, Byrne was able to move back ahead of North West 200 Ducati rider Rutter but then made a mistake entering Britten's when he put a wheel onto the white line on the side of the circuit and was forced to stand the bike up and straightline the chicane – slipping down to 13th place in the process.
Out front. Crutchlow was pushing Sykes hard for the lead, with Haslam not far behind and ready to pounce should the chance arise. Further down the pack, Leon Camier had stormed his way though the top six bit was then demoted by Stuart Easton on lap three. Sykes therefore led at the end of the lap from Crutchlow, Haslam, Ellison, Rutter and Easton with Byrne having climbed back to eleventh; setting the fastest lap in the process.
Clearly deciding that Crutchlow wasn't going to be able to find a way past the leader, Haslam moved past his team-mate at Old Hall at the start of lap four and set about trying to move up into top spot himself.
On lap six, he briefly took the lead at the first corner only to run wide and allow Sykes to cut back through into the position and the pair were soon joined again by Crutchlow who remained in contention and Ellison, who wasn't too far behind on the Hydrex Honda.
