Motorcycling: Fired-up Byrne storms to victory

Michael Laverty and Shane Byrne took the victories in the rain-soaked fourth round of the British Superbike Championship at Thruxton yesterday. Byrne, who had taken a tumble in qualifying, had to start the opening race from the back of the grid but he carved through the field to finish in third place, a split second down on Michael Rutter as Laverty took his first victory of the season on the Swan Yamaha.

That stunning ride earned Byrne pole start for the second race at the Hampshire circuit and he made good use of it, running clear out front and dictating terms as he comfortably took his third victory of the season on the HM Plant Honda.