Silverstone is known as Britain’s Formula One venue, and has only hosted Superbike racing since 1998, although there was a double-header there in 1992. The International circuit comprises half the Grand Prix track, with a cut through from Becketts to Abbey. Byrne had won there in his successful 2003 season, and Michael Rutter was also a former circuit winner in the current field, as were three men from their Supersport racing days.

By now there was news through of some of the changes set for the 2009 season, which now included moves onto the world stage for Haslam (to join Sykes in Superbike) and Cal Crutchlow (to Supersport). That would mean an all-new line-up for the HRC-backed HM Plant Honda team, and meanwhile there would be a big change for the rival GSE Racing outfit. Currently known as Airwaves Ducati, the team had run the Italian bikes since 1997, but would be swapping to Yamaha for the new season.

Qualifying at Silverstone brought a fourth pole position of the season for Crutchlow, with team-mate Haslam second. Ducati’s front row representative was third-placed Rutter, on the North West 200 machine. Yamaha’s Karl Harris was next, for his best start since the beginning of the season. Rizla Suzuki rider Sykes was fifth, and therefore the Airwaves men were no better than sixth, with Byrne closely followed by partner Leon Camier.

Eighth went to James Ellison, for Hydrex Bike Animal Honda, and then it was Michael Laverty, for Relentless Suzuki by TAS. Tenth went to Quay Garage Honda rider Gary Mason, the first privateer Cup runner again. Kawasaki men Stuart Easton (MSS Discovery) and Scott Smart (Hawk) were next, then Simon Andrews (Jentin Yamaha), Billy McConnell (MSS) and Jason O’Halloran (SMT Honda).

The HM Plant men led the way into race one, with Haslam ahead of Crutchlow. Sykes, Ellison, Rutter, Harris and Laverty followed. Byrne initially dropped from sixth to tenth, but was quick to get past both Easton and Camier. The right-handed Abbey hairpin follows the fastest section of the track, which means heavy braking and a passing opportunity. At this point Rutter went to the outside of Ellison, and Harris to the inside. Karl made it past, whilst Michael ran wide and this let Laverty through for sixth and let him also challenge James.

Haslam, Crutchlow and Sykes already had a small margin over the others, and this only increased when fourth man Harris went off onto the grass on the outside of the right-handed Becketts corner. He was obviously delayed by the need to turn around and get back into the race. Now Ellison was fourth, from Laverty, Rutter, Byrne, Camier, Easton, Smart and Mason. The order amongst the Ducatis changed when Camier overtook Byrne on the inside for Abbey.

As Haslam sought to get clear, the battle was on behind him. Unfortunately, Sykes’ attempt to pass Crutchlow went wrong at the tight left-right Woodcote chicane, before the start-finish straight. Tom went to the inside for the left and in the event crashed into Leon as he took the corner. Both riders went down, but were able to get going again as other riders streamed past. The incident was to be subject to an official investigation.

Crutchlow was now the leader, with a bit of a gap to Michael Laverty and James Ellison. The 2008 season to date had seen Laverty with a best result of fourth, so this looked a good opportunity. Rutter, Camier and Byrne were next, with a gap to Smart, Mason and Easton. Ellison was the fast man at this stage, but he would be another to come to grief. He later described a rushed gearchange that caused a highside crash before the braking zone at the chicane. The Honda clipped Laverty’s Suzuki, and both men were down. Rutter was held up, and although Laverty continued it would not be to much effect.

All of which gave Crutchlow a bit of a lead over Camier and Byrne, and effectively guaranteed Shane his title. Rutter now held a rather more lonely fourth, with Smart up to fifth, from Mason, Andrews, Easton, O’Halloran, Tristan Palmer, Atsushi Watanabe, Harris, McConnell, David Johnson, Guy Martin, Chris Burns, Martin Jessopp and Dan Stewart.

Byrne began to lose ground as Camier caught up to Crutchlow, and the two young riders changed places when Leon went to the inside for the left-handed Priory corner, after the fast Bridge bend. From there, Camier pulled away to take the race, with Crutchlow securing an unchallenged second. Byrne was in the same position in third place, which made him the uncontested series champion. Rutter was fourth, but fifth had changed hands. Smart had been no better that eighth in earlier races, and he would not improve on that after crashing out, which left it to Andrews, who took the position from Mason.

Harris had made it back as far as seventh position when he had to pull off as his bike stopped. So behind Mason, who took his best result of the season to date, came Palmer and O’Halloran, each of whom took their best ever BSB result. Easton was ninth, and Rizla rider Watanabe was the first of the Suzuki men in tenth, from McConnell. Haslam made it home next, followed by Sykes, but the latter was later disqualified. Johnson, Burns and Peter Hickman were the other points men.

The grid for race two looked a bit different, as Sykes was demoted three rows for taking out Haslam earlier, which meant P17. Haslam led away, from Harris, Ellison and Crutchlow. Mason’s start took him from tenth to fifth, ahead of Rutter, but Byrne got past both of them going through on the inside at Becketts. Camier and Laverty were next. Crutchlow was into a podium position as he overtook Ellison at Abbey on the inside.

Crutchlow subsequently used the same corner to challenge Harris, going ahead on the inside, but Karl switched to the inside for the exit apex to resume his position. Cal made the move work at Priory on the inside. This action let Haslam pull away, and he soon looked to be in an unassailable lead. Crutchlow had some kind of difficulty which saw him drop outside the top ten but continue. This left Harris alone in second, and meanwhile Byrne took third from Ellison at Abbey.

Byrne and Sykes were both making progress, and Shane caught Harris, passing him on the inside through the Luffield right loop. Tom had made his way through and taken fifth from Rutter, and he then got past Ellison at Abbey. A fastest lap time took Byrne clear of Harris, but Haslam was already out of range. Camier also moved up as he passed Rutter and then engaged with Ellison.

Now it was Haslam from Byrne, Harris and Sykes, with a four man group involving Ellison, Camier, Rutter and Laverty. Crutchlow moved past Andrews and Mason to get back to ninth. Camier went inside Ellison at Abbey, but he went too wide and this time James got his place back. Right after that Laverty passed Rutter through the inside at Bridge, then Camier got through on Ellison inside at Priory. Laverty’s chances ended when he lost the rear end when turning through the left-hander at the chicane, and went down.

The late stages saw Haslam and Byrne secure in first and second positions, but Harris was being caught. Sykes passed the 28-year-old on the inside at Copse, the first right-hander, and then Camier closed in. On the penultimate lap Leon went inside Karl at Priory and completed the pass despite going a bit wide. Camier was close behind Sykes at the finish, with Harris taking fifth. Crutchlow had recovered to sixth, but stopped with an apparent electrical problem. Therefore it was then Ellison, Rutter, Andrews, Mason, McConnell, O’Halloran, Easton, Palmer, John Laverty, Johnson and Michael Laverty.

First race incidents for Leon Haslam, Tom Sykes, Karl Harris, James Ellison and Michael Laverty allowed Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne to secure an easy podium finish and wrap up the 2008 title beyond doubt. With eighteen podiums, including eight wins, there was no question that he hard earned his second BSB crown, and it made for a winning start to the career of Ducati’s 1098R twin - even allowing for the success ballast that had been added from round four. Byrne took third and second places on the day, and there was a win and fourth for Airwaves team-mate Leon Camier.

Haslam was unlucky not to keep his slim title hopes alive a bit longer, as his race two victory showed that he might have continued to set the pace in race one if not collected by Sykes. And the Suzuki rider also looked to have been a threat for the double, given how he advanced through the field in race two after his grid penalty. But in fact fortunes seemed to be mixed for all but the Airwaves pair, as Cal Crutchlow could not back up his earlier second place in race two, and good form from Harris, Ellison and Laverty was upset in at least one instance for each. One round remains, and it will be second overall that is settled at Brands Hatch.

Standings after twenty-two races: Byrne 424; Haslam 323; Sykes 306; Crutchlow 285; Camier 279; Rutter 237; J Ellison 203; Andrews 159; M Laverty 140; Harris 102; Palmer 100; McConnell 85.

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