Alex Lowes and Shane 'Shakey' Byrne locked horns again in the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown at Silverstone as the Samsung Honda rider narrowly emerged victorious in the opening race of the day, with the pair dicing all the way to the chequered flag.
Byrne had taken the lead on the opening lap as he continued to battle through the pain of his huge high-side yesterday, snatching the advantage from Lowes and Josh Brookes, but the Samsung Honda rider then moved ahead and although Byrne fought back instantly he couldn't get ahead.
Brookes then attacked Byrne, moving up to second but within three corners Byrne was back ahead and gunning for the lead. He attempted to pass Lowes into Stow on the third lap, but his main Title Fighter rival wasn't giving an inch and he held the lead.
The leading trio were locked in formation but there was heartbreak for Brookes and the Tyco Suzuki team when he was forced to retire on the fifth lap with a technical issue that saw him again fail to score points.
Brookes' retirement promoted his team-mate PJ Jacobsen to third and he in turn was coming under pressure from the leading Milwaukee Yamaha of Tommy Bridewell. The American had the advantage until the closing stages but it wasn't until the final lap that Bridewell managed to push ahead and score his second podium finish for Milwaukee Yamaha ahead of Jacobsen.
At the front of the pack Lowes and Byrne were again inseparable and it came down to the final lap as Byrne hit the front at Maggotts with a decisive move down the inside. Lowes however was soon on the attack and after looking for the entire lap he reclaimed the position at Brooklands and despite Byrne trying to regain the lead at Luffield it came down to the drag to the line.
The pair exited Luffield side-by-side and Lowes narrowly claimed a thrilling race win from Byrne to move back ahead by four points in the overall standings.
"It was a great race with Shakey and we stopped together after the race together and said just that and thanks for a good race." Lowes stated. "It was really nice after the mistake at Assen and if you forget that now the two races we have had in the Showdown have had some awesome battles that either of us could have won so that's fantastic.
"I am pretty lucky that he isn't fully fit as that race could have been even more difficult so fair play to him and that is why he is champion. The Samsung Honda is working good and I am feeling good so I am pretty sure there will be more battles in race two and I am looking forward to it," he concluded.
The second Milwaukee Yamaha of James Ellison claimed fifth after he had carved his way up the order in impressive style following his sixth row start as he edged out Jon Kirkham on the Buildbase BMW and Matteo Baiocco on the Rapido Sport Racing Ducati who celebrated his best finish. Barry Burrell was able to claim tenth after he edged out Josh Waters in his first race with Halsall Racing Kawasaki.
RACE TWO:
