Byrne secures sixth BSB title with Brands Hatch turnaround

Shane Byrne has clinched an unprecedented sixth MCE British Superbike championship after a dramatic overhaul of Leon Haslam at the triple-header final round at Brands Hatch.

The defending BSB champion has produced a 33-point deficit turnaround on Haslam at the final round with two wins and an eighth place at the Kent circuit to claim the 2017 crown ahead of the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider, who crashed out of the final race with brake failure.

It marks the first successful defence Byrne has produced of a BSB title to add to his previous five championships in potentially the most dramatic of circumstances having been a relative outside shot heading into the final round.

After a disastrous start to the 2017 campaign when concussion ruled him out of the season opener at Donington Park, it took until race two at Oulton Park for the Be Wiser Ducati rider to claim his first win of the season.

A double third place at Knockhill ensured he continued his climb up the BSB riders’ championship before a run of four consecutive wins at Snetterton and Brands Hatch saw him take the championship lead for the first time in 2017.

Byrne’s charge somewhat stalled between Thruxton, Cadwell Park and Silverstone with just two third places and a fourth place heading into the BSB Showdown before underwhelming results at Oulton Park lost him the lead to Haslam.

A second and a fifth place at Assen left Byrne losing further ground to Haslam for the final round and a 33-point deficit to overturn but a near-perfect race weekend with two wins saw him storm to a dramatic title climax as Haslam crashed to allow Byrne to ease off in the final race to take the title.