Rizla Suzuki’s Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne won the second race at a sun-drenched Knockhill circuit in Scotland at the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship to end a 22-month drought of victories for the team. Shakey led the opening race and enjoyed a three-way scrap for the win; eventually finishing second just behind Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari. In the second race the Rizla Suzuki rider led from start to finish. He performed a wheelie the length of the straight in celebration as he received the loudest cheer of the weekend from the huge crowd. The last time Rizla Suzuki won a race was at Oulton Park in September 2004 when John Reynolds was on his way to claiming the British Superbike title. Byrne was the lone Rizla Suzuki racer at Knockhill as his team mate James Haydon missed the event while he continues to recuperate from the foot and shoulder injuries he sustained in a crash at Snetterton in Norfolk four weeks ago. Rizla Suzuki will replace James with a stand in rider at the ninth round of the British Superbike Championship at Oulton Park in Cheshire next weekend. Shane Byrne: “Everybody has been telling me how much Rizla Suzuki needed a win and I knew how important it was for the team. What people didn’t realise is just how much I needed to win as well; it has been a long time since I topped the podium and led a race from start to finish. “A massive thank you to my team for all the support – they made the difference today. In the first race I was always in contention but had to be content with second. My crew made some inspired changes to the bike in between the races and in the second race I managed to break away for the win. “It’s been a mega day for Rizla Suzuki, for me and for the Scottish fans. To win the Steve Hislop Memorial for the fastest lap is a real bonus as well. I couldn’t be much happier and can’t wait to get to Oulton Park to see if I can do it all again. I don’t normally drink but I’ll be having a few this evening to celebrate!” Robert Wicks – Team Manager: “Well done Shakey and Rizla Suzuki for this win. It has been a long time coming. We have had some bad luck recently but through sheer effort and will power we have turned things around for a fantastic result. “Shane and the team have shown their true class and this result is not only for them, it is for Rizla, Suzuki, all our sponsors and all of the fans who have stuck with us through thick and thin. Thank you one and all and we hope we can continue in this vein for the rest of the season. “The weather has been warm and dry for the second year in a row at Knockhill and the racing has been nothing short of spectacular. A lot of credit must go to the circuit staff for their enthusiasm and drive to make the event a big success; it has been a pleasure to race here. “Now we will go back to the team HQ to prepare for next week’s ninth round of the Championship. There is a lot of work to be completed in a short space of time and we hope today’s results will provide us with strong momentum through the second half of the season.” * Hear what Shakey personally has to say about his maiden win for Rizla Suzuki by visiting www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk and clicking on the multimedia section. Race One Results: 1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 24:34.062, 2: Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) +0.591, 3: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +1.461, 4: Jonathan Rea (Honda) +2.361, 5: Michael Laverty (Honda) +15.458, 6: Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) +19.204, 7: Karl Harris (Honda) +19.657, 8: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +20.093, 9: Glen Richards (Honda) +20.185, 10: Scott Smart (Suzuki) +20.246. Race Two Results: 1: Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) 24:28.093, 2: Rea +3.154, 3: Haslam +3.454, 4: Hill +16.542, 5: Laverty +16.783, 6: Harris +19.155, 7: Smart +19.243, 8: Richards +20.265, 9: Coxhell +21.543, 10: Michael Rutter (Honda) +27.247. Championship Standings (after eight of 13 rounds): 1: Lavilla 244, 2: Haslam 233, 3: Kiyonari 224, 4: Shane Byrne (Rizla Suzuki) 150, 5=: Harris 129, Rea 129, 7: Laverty 118, 8: Hill 108, 9: Rutter 99, 10: Smart 74. 16: James Haydon (Rizla Suzuki) 36. More, from a press release issued by Stobart Motorsport: HIGH FIVES FOR LAVERTY AT KNOCKHILL Stobart Motorsport rider Michael Laverty weighed in a pair of fifth place finishes in round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship held at a warm and sunny Knockhill in Scotland today. After qualifying on row two of the grid on the VK and Vent Axia backed Honda Fireblade, the 25 year old Ulsterman was hoping to repeat the podium placing of 2005 but after a good start in the opening race, he faded back but held onto fifth at the end of the hectic thirty laps. In race two, Laverty battled in the chasing pack and repeated his feat to consolidate his seventh place in the standings. “Two fifth places is not too bad but I think I could have done better. In the first race my lap times dropped and they just pulled away from me. I had a better tyre in race two but got a bad start and the leaders had already gone so I didn’t get a chance to run with them. With a couple of laps to go, Tommy Hill passed me and I couldn’t get him back so I’m disappointed to have lost fourth in the end. I think I can improve a bit more and hopefully get on the rostrum again” said Laverty. Meanwhile team mate Michael Rutter couldn’t repeat his double podium of last season and struggled to a pair of lowly points scoring finishes. In race one, the Leicestershire rider ran wide and into the gravel at the Hairpin before recovering to 13th place and in race two, he toughed it out to eventually end up in 10th. As a result, Rutter dropped to ninth in the championship chase: “I’m really disappointed. We had to adjust the brake on the warm up lap in race two and I ran on in the first race, but apart from that everything else was great. I’m looking forward to Oulton Park now” said Rutter. Team owner Paul Bird commented: “It’s not been a bad day really. Two top five positions for Laverty was good against factory machinery especially with Knockhill being a difficult circuit. Michael (Rutter) was disappointing and he had a poor day by his standards.” The next round of the Championship takes place next weekend at Oulton Park, Cheshire. Superbike Race One Result 1, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 24m34.062s, 2, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) +0.591s, 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +1.461s, 4, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +2.361s, 5, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +15.458s, 6, Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) +19.204s, 7, Karl Harris (Honda) +19.657s, 8, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +20.093s, 9, Glen Richards (Honda) +20.185s, 10, Scott Smart (Suzuki) +20.246s”¦ 13, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +36.249s. Superbike Race Two Result 1, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 24m28.093s, 2, Jonathan Rea (Honda) +3.154s, 3, Leon Haslam (Ducati) +3.454s, 4, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +16.542s, 5, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) +16.783s, 6, Karl Harris (Honda) +19.155s, 7, Scott Smart (Suzuki) +19.243s, 8, Glen Richards (Honda) +20.265s, 9, Craig Coxhell (Kawasaki) +21.543s, 10, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) +27.247s. Bennetts British Superbike Championship Standings (after round 8) 1, Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) 244pts 2, Leon Haslam (Ducati) 233pts 3, Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 224pts 4, Shane Byrne (Suzuki) 150pts 5, Karl Harris (Honda) 129pts 5, Jonathan Rea (Honda) 129pts 7, Michael Laverty (Stobart Honda) 118pts 8, Tommy Hill (Yamaha) 108pts 9, Michael Rutter (Stobart Honda) 99pts 10, Scott Smart (Suzuki) 74pts 2006 Bennetts British Superbike Race Dates R1: 2426 March, Brands Hatch, Kent (Indy) www.motorsportvision.co.uk R2: 79 April, Donington Park, Leics www.donington-park.co.uk R3: 1417 April, Thruxton, Hants www.barc.net R4: 29 April1 May, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R5: 1921 May, Mondello Park, Co Kildare www.mondellopark.ie R6: 24 June, Mallory Park, Leics www.mallorypark.co.uk R7: 16-18 June, Snetterton, Norfolk www.motorsportvision.co.uk R8: 1416 July, Knockhill, Fife www.knockhill.co.uk R9: 21-23 July, Oulton Park, Cheshire www.motorsportvision.co.uk R10:11-13 August, Croft, N Yorks www.croftcircuit.co.uk R11: 26-28 August, Cadwell Park, Lincs www.motorsportvision.co.uk R12: 15-17 September, Silverstone, Northants www.silverstone-circuit.co.uk R13: 29 September 1 October, Brands Hatch, Kent (GP) www.motorsportvision.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Wayside Racing: MORE POINTS FOR THE BRIDEWELLS AT COSTA KNOCKHILL Brothers Tommy and Ollie Bridewell, from Etchilhampton near Devizes in Wiltshire, made the most of their ten hour trip north with a pair of great performances at round eight of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship meeting held at Knockhill in Scotland over the weekend. With yet another bumper BSB crowd enjoying the warm Fife sunshine, 17 year old Tommy made it six points scoring rides in seven races when he took a fine 12th place in the British Supersport Championship aboard the 600cc Vivaldi Suzuki despite a last minute drama on the warm up lap which nearly put paid to his chances. However, from his disappointing row five start, Tommy battled through the field to eventually come home ahead of local rider Bob Grant and in adding to his points tally, he consolidated his 13th position in the standings. “We’ve encountered a few problems again this weekend which has been very frustrating but I’m happy enough with my performance. The main aim is always to get into the points now and I’m disappointed I couldn’t get any higher but under the circumstances, I’ll take this result and move on to the next round” said Tommy. Meanwhile elder brother Ollie finally found some form after a few rounds in the doldrums in the Bennetts British Superbike Championship. Aboard the 1000cc Vivaldi Suzuki, the 20 year old qualified in 20th position and in the opening thirty lap race, he battled to a 19th position but it was in the second race on the switchback Scottish track that Ollie excelled when he came home in a brilliant 14th position to add to his points from the opening couple of rounds much to his delight: “It was important for me to score some points this weekend and that’s what I have done. It matters not that a couple of riders in front of me didn’t see the chequered flag in race two but I stuck to my race plan and it worked out. These are my first points in the dry and this is where the season starts again for me and I’m aiming to score more points in the next few races” said Ollie who moved up to joint 19th in the standings. Wayside Racing team owner Marcus Bridewell was delighted with his sons’ performances: “It makes the ten hour drive up here worthwhile when we’ve scored a few points. Ollie rode really well and I’m delighted with the way he set his stall out today and as for Tommy, he’s learning all the time and this weekend, he’s had some problems but he’s overcome them. I’m absolutely delighted for both of them and we’re very much looking forward to Oulton Park next weekend”