Cycle News

Cycle News 2015 Issue 27 July 7

Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles

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IN THE WIND P38 BYRNE DOUBLES UP, AGAIN P BM Kawasaki's Shane Byrne has once again stretched his lead in the British Superbike Championship after another double victory, this one coming at Knockhill in Scotland over the weekend. Londoner Byrne was at his brilliant best in Scotland, taking pole position and holding off de- termined challenges from team- mate Stuart Easton and Milwau- kee Yamaha's Josh Brookes, those three riders filling out the podium in both races. Race one saw Byrne dispose of early race leader Easton at the hairpin on lap one, however he was unable to pull a substan- tial gap at the notoriously tight Knockhill venue, eventually tak- ing the flag by .495 of a second from Easton, Brookes and Tyco BMW's Michael Laverty a further .9 of a second behind in fourth. It was a high attrition race, with retirements including Josh Waters, James Ellison, Ryuichi Kiyonari, Dan Linfoot, Jack Ken- nedy and Christian Iddon. Race two was a two-part affair after rain halted proceed- ings with Byrne leading Laverty, Easton and Brookes, resulting in an 11-lap dash to the flag. Byrne held on, leading Easton, Brookes, Kiyonari and Honda Racing's Jason O'Halloran. "It might have looked easy, but I can tell you it wasn't," Byrne said. "The first race was long and the pace was not as quick and I had expected it to be, but I was desperate to be in front. "I had a plan for the sprint race [restarted race two] and that was to start at the front and finish at the front. I was able to push hard and the bike was perfect and I can't wait for Brands Hatch now!" Byrne now leads Brookes in the standings 201 to 166 with Easton sitting third at 139. In the Supersport category, American James Rispoli took 5-7 results on his Team Trac- tion Control Yamaha YZF-R6 behind race one winner Glenn Irwin on the Gearlink Kawasaki and race-two winner Kyle Ryde on the PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha. The win elevated Irwin to the championship lead by a single point over Ryde, 172 to 171. Profile Racing Triumph's Luke Stapleford, who took 2-4 finishes at Knockhill, sits third at 169. Rispoli sits seventh at 74. PHOTO COURTESY OF BSB Another perfect weekend for Shane Byrne (67).

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