Shane 'Shakey' Byrne celebrated his second victory of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season in the opening race at Snetterton, edging out an advantage over Josh Brookes and Jason O'Halloran to seal the win.

On the opening lap Leon Haslam fired himself to the front of the field ahead of James Ellison, but the McAMS Yamaha was instantly on the attack and claimed the lead with a move at Brundle. Pole sitter Byrne had dropped to fourth at the start, but by the second lap he had pushed his way into third place when he passed Dan Linfoot on the brakes into Riches.

A lap later and Byrne was up to second, out dragging Haslam down the Senna Straight to move ahead into Riches for the third time. The defending champion then had Ellison in his sight and on the fifth lap a mistake from the race leader gave Byrne the gap he needed to snatch the position and move to the front of the pack.

Byrne was being chased by Ellison but there was further disappointment for the McAMS Yamaha rider when he suffered a technical problem and was forced to retire from the race. Byrne had the advantage but behind there was a battle of the Australians as O’Halloran was fending off the challenge from Brookes.

Brookes forced the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha ahead on the seventh lap and then held him off as he bid to close down Byrne, but at the flag it wasn’t enough but a strong return to the podium for the 2015 champion.

O’Halloran was soon under pressure from a closing Haslam over the final laps but he managed to fend off the closing JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider to return to the podium. Haslam celebrated his return to racing action with a fourth place ahead of the second Honda Racing Fireblade of Dan Linfoot.

Jake Dixon got the better of Peter Hickman in the closing stages to secure sixth place as the pair edge closer to the Showdown six in the standings with John Hopkins, Bradley Ray and Sylvain Guintoli completing the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, race one result:

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +3.295s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +7.698s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +7.885s
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +11.656s
Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) +14.513s
Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +14.698s
John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +16.596s
Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +17.140s
Sylvain Guintoli (Bennetts Suzuki) +21.341s

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Snetterton race one:

Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 141
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 124
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 115
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) 99
Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) 98
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 86