Brookes wins season finale, Byrne takes BSB title as Haslam falls
Shane Byrne has clinched the MCE British Superbike title in a dramatic season finale with Josh Brookes winning the race to take second in the championship as Leon Haslam crashes out.
With Haslam leading the BSB standings by two points heading into the final race ahead of Byrne, it was set-up for a tense climax which began strongly as Haslam darted into fifth place with Byrne in sixth.
Shane Byrne has clinched the MCE British Superbike title in a dramatic season finale with Josh Brookes winning the race to take second in the championship as Leon Haslam crashes out.
With Haslam leading the BSB standings by two points heading into the final race ahead of Byrne, it was set-up for a tense climax which began strongly as Haslam darted into fifth place with Byrne in sixth.
But on lap six heartbreak struck for Haslam as he suffered suspected brake failure with his JG Speedfit Kawasaki which forced him to jump off at the high-speed Hawthorns bend and out of a title position.
That handed Byrne the potential to seal the title by finishing 14th or higher if Brookes won the race, which the Anvil Hire Yamaha rider did in style, but with the Be Wiser Ducati rider easing off to finish eighth he claimed an unprecedented sixth BSB title.
With Brookes taking the final win of the year he leapfrogs Haslam for second place in the BSB championship standings, while Jason O’Halloran on the Honda and James Ellison on the McAMS Yamaha completed the podium trio.
More to follow.
