Shane 'Shakey' Byrne won the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race of the weekend at Brands Hatch to extend his lead in the standings to 18 points as Alex Lowes crashed out unhurt on the WFR Honda. Title Fighters Tommy Hill and Josh Brookes claimed the final podium positions ahead of tomorrow's two final races.

Byrne has stormed into the lead on the opening lap with Lowes and Michael Laverty in pursuit, with the Samsung Honda rider making a move at Stirlings on the second lap to push the WFR Honda rider to third. Lowes instantly retaliated and claimed the position back a lap later as they fought for the opening race win of the day.

Tommy Hill and Josh Brookes were desperately trying to move up ahead of Stuart Easton on the second Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki as he held fourth position over the opening laps. There was drama for Laverty though on the eleventh lap as he dropped from third to twelfth, promoting Hill and Brookes to third and fourth respectively.

Two laps later and Hill and Brookes both made a pass on Easton to move into podium contention, but there was disaster for Lowes who crashed out at Clearways as the race was red flagged. Hill and Brookes picked up the pieces with the final two podium spots, promoting the defending champion ahead of the WFR Honda rider now in the standings by two points.

Westmoreland ended fourth on the sole WFR Honda ahead of Barry Burrell and Tommy Bridewell who finished seventh despite his finger injury. Laverty rounded out the top ten for Samsung Honda.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, race one result:

Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki)
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 1 lap
Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 1 lap
James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) 1 lap
Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1 lap
Barry Burrell (Buildbase BMW) 1 lap
Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 1 lap
Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) 1 lap
Jon Kirkham (Samsung Honda) 1 lap
Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 1 lap

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship standings after Brands Hatch race one:

Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 633
Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 615
Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 586
Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 584
Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) 565
Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) 553

The 2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike champion will be crowned tomorrow at Brands Hatch this weekend (14 October)

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