BSB Championship Round 2, Oulton Park

A crowd of over 40,000 people packed into Oulton Park on Bank Holiday Monday to witness two thrilling races, as the BSB circus rolled into Cheshire for the first of two visits during 2014.

Shane Byrne led the field away at the start of race one, but the race was immediately neutralised behind the safety car following Simon Andrews’ spectacular crash just after Old Hall Corner.

When the race was restarted, Ellison seized the initiative, taking the lead from Byrne at Old Hall and trying to build a gap. The leading trio of Ellison, Byrne and Milwaukee Yamaha rider Josh Brookes made a break from the rest of the field, with Byrne retaking the lead quickly.

Brookes continued to pressure Ellison for second, and on lap 11 the Lloyds GB Moto rider made a mistake, running across the grass at Hizzy’s chicane and gifting second to Brookes. The Australian then set about chasing down Byrne, breaking the lap record in the process, but Shakey was able to hold on to take his third victory of the season.

Race two followed a similar pattern, with Brookes, Ellison and Byrne again being the class of the field. Brookes hit the front on the opening lap aboard his Milwaukee Yamaha. This didn’t last, as Byrne was quickly passed the Aussie rider to try and make it two wins for the day.

Brookes instantly counter-attacked with a very brave move underneath Shakey through the 160mph kink at Water Tower, and from then on he was never headed. Despite massive pressue from the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider, Brookes held on to take the win by just 0.118 seconds, with Ellison again completing the podium in third.

Full results from the meeting can be found here.

Words and Photography by Richard Crawford

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