Crutchlow & Byrne Take Championship Lead
Added on Monday, April 21st, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor
Crutchlow & Byrne Take Championship Lead
Cal Crutchlow shares the British Superbikes championship lead with Shane Byrne after an eventful season opener at Thruxton.
Byrne took the chequered flag in the opening race after starting on pole and although Crutchlow took the lead on the opening lap, the Airwaves Ducati rider triumphed in a thrilling battle with his HM Plant Honda rival.
Byrne was hot on the heels of Crutchlow throughout until the 13th lap when he finally found a way past the Coventry rider. Byrne then went on to win by a comfortable two second margin to take the opening race and the early lead in the championship.
‘Shakey’ said: “We have come a long way, and it is great to be back racing and get this result. I settled into the race and Cal was really going for it. I got up to second and the gap was opening up.
“As I came across the line a few laps later my pitboard was showing plus zero so I thought I should pull my finger out, which I did! It is a great result for us.”
Byrne looked set for his second victory of the afternoon in race two as he took the initiative from the start before the race was red-flagged on lap seven following a huge crash involving Tom Sykes and Karl Harris.
In the battle for fourth position, Sykes clipped the back of Leon Haslam at the Seagrave corner, knocking him off his Suzuki which in turn flew into Harris.
Harris received medical treatment on the track and miraculously escaped with only minor cuts and bruises whilst Sykes was able to take his place on the grid for the restart on his spare bike.
And it was Sykes who looked to have profited from the restart as he raced off the line ahead of Crutchlow before the speed of the Honda showed on the following lap.
Crutchlow held on for the victory and levelled the series with Byrne finishing in second.
“I knew a race win would come, I just didn’t realise it would come so soon,” said a elated Crutchlow.
“The HM Plant Honda team have worked hard for this during the pre-season for this. I just had to control that one from the front, which was where I wanted to be.”
British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race One Results:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati)
2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +2.306s
3. Michael Rutter (NW 200 Ducati) +3.573
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +10.949
5. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +18.745
6. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +19.048s
7. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +19.406s
8. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British) +22.403s
9. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +22.709
10. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +23.902s
British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Race Two Result:
1. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda)
2. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +1.807s
3. Michael Rutter (NW 200 Ducati) +2.136s
4. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +7.942s
5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +11.863s
6. Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +12.461s
7. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +13.632s
8. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) +18.759s
9. Guy Martin (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +23.395s
10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +23.899s
