BSB: Shakey versus Ray in race one battle of Brands Hatch

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne celebrated his first win of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship in the opening race at Brands Hatch as the Be Wiser Ducati rider was able to capitalise on a mistake for Bradley Ray on the penultimate lap of the Indy circuit opener.

Ray produced a lightning start off the line to lead Byrne and Leon Haslam on the opening lap as the 20-year-old double race winner from Donington Park led the freight train of riders.

Ray and Byrne were soon edging ahead at the front of the pack as the local heroes battled for supremacy at the front of the field. Meanwhile Haslam in third place was coming under fire from the chasing trio of Jason O’Halloran, Christian Iddon and Michael Laverty who had been locked in a grudge match to close the gap to the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider.

O’Halloran was able to make a decisive move to edge into third place and the Honda Racing contender was able to hold off a counter attack from Haslam in the closing stages with Iddon completing the top five for Tyco BMW.

Jake Dixon moved his way up the order to sixth position, just ahead of Glenn Irwin and Michael Laverty, who dropped to eighth in the closing stages of the race with Tommy Bridewell and Peter Hickman in the battle to complete the top ten.

British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Race One result:

1. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
2. Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.837s
3. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +2.412s
4. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +2.863s
5. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +5.101s
6. Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +6.673s
7. Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +7.521s
8. Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +8.037s
9. Tommy Bridewell (Movuno.com Halsall Racing Suzuki) +8.247s
10. Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +8.383s

British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch race one:

1. Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) 70
2. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 56
3. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 40
4. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 32
5. Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) 29
6. Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 28