Round eight of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park proved to be one of frustration for both Rapid Solicitors Racing Team riders Shane Shakey Byrne and Stuart Easton.

Byrne was looking to continue where he left off at Brands Hatch in the previous round where he scored a double victory but the former double BSB champion crashed out during free practice on Saturday injuring his shoulder.

The Isle of Sheppey rider was transferred to hospital whereby he underwent an operation to repair damage to shoulder ligaments on Sunday but was back at the track for race day and plans to be back for the first of the Showdown rounds at Assen in a month's time.

Meanwhile, Easton could only manage 20th place during qualifying, meaning his chances of squeezing into the top six of the all-important Showdown were slim and that was compounded when he could only manage 19th in the opening race. The Scot, from Hawick, improved to 14th in the second race to remain 12th in the standings but his chance of the British title has now gone.

Therefore, it was left to Keith Farmer to uphold honour for the Paul Bird Motorsport Team as he took a resounding fourth win of the season to increase his lead at the top of the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 table.

Farmer, from Clogher in Northern Ireland, took maximum advantage of his pole position to lead from start to finish in the damp conditions and with the result, he moves ten points clear going into the final three rounds.

Paul Bird, Team Owner:

"Shakey's injury is a real setback but hopefully he will make it back for Assen and the start of The Showdown but this is racing and these things happen. As for Stuart, I spoke to him between races and he knows he needs to up his game in the final four rounds as those results are not good enough. I thought Keith did a fantastic job and once he hit the front in those conditions, he was gone so that result salvaged some pride for us."

The next round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship takes place at Donington Park on September 7/9

MCE British Superbike Championship Race 1 - 18 laps
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha)
2 Alex Lowes (Honda)
3 Michael Laverty (Honda)
4 Danny Buchan (Kawasaki)
5 Jon Kirkham (Honda)
6 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)
19 Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
DNS Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

MCE British Superbike Championship Race 2 - 18 laps
1 Tommy Hill (Yamaha)
2 Josh Brookes (Suzuki)
3 Michael Laverty (Honda)
4 Alex Lowes (Honda)
5 Tommy Bridewell (BMW)
6 James Westmoreland (Honda)
14 Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
DNS Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)

Championship Standings (after 8 rounds)
1 Hill 316
2 Brookes 276
3 Byrne 255
4 Laverty 204
5 Bridewell 142
6 Lowes 125
12 Easton 76

Metzeler National Superstock 1000cc Championship (15 laps)
1 Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
2 Joe Burns (Kawasaki)
3 Jason O'Halloran (Honda)
4 Adam Jenkinson (Honda)
5 Lee Costello (Kawasaki)
6 Howie Mainwaring (BMW)

Championship standings (after 10 rounds)
1 Farmer 156pts
2 O'Halloran 146
3 Cox 105
4 Storrar 105
5 Brogan 91
6 Johnson 90

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