Lowes becomes youngest BSB Champion

SAMSUNG Honda’s Alex Lowes has won his first ever MCE British Superbike Championship after dicing with mixed weather conditions at Brands Hatch.

The triple-header weekend went ahead in mixed conditions which led to the title fight being decided in the final race of the Showdown as both title contenders Lowes and Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne crashed out of the second race of the weekend maintaining the 3-point difference.

Race 3 was declared a wet race with the Derby rider starting the final race ninth on the grid as he crashed on the first lap.

However, rules meant that Byrne had to start back in 22nd on the grid. The Championship was decided on the last lap of the final race where Byrne and Lowes were both fighting for second. A slide from Byrne at Druids meant he was unable to keep ahead of the 23-year-old who crossed the line to take second place crowning him the 2013 BSB Champion. 

Lowes said: “I’m pretty happy. It was an unbelievable last race, really difficult, and I just didn’t know how fast to push. I saw on my pit signals that Shane was closing on me and round here that is the last thing you wanted to see. It was a case of keeping focussed and when Shane had got past me I knew that I had to pass him if I wanted the title so I pushed on real hard.

“I had a few moments but luckily kept it all together and beat him to take the title. To me that really is incredible, because its always difficult with the weather playing such a big part. Saturday’s race was hard – it was difficult to know where the grip was so it was a case of keeping calm and then pushing hard. It felt pretty good but it was quite slippery. 

“In Sunday’s first race Josh Brookes touched my bar and I went down – it was not my fault and I can’t be angry about something that is out of my control. It was one of those things, unfortunate.” 

Byrne finished second in the Championship, but was disappointed with the weather: "Personally for me I am a bit sad for the crowd because if we had a dry track this weekend I think the racing could have been as good as it has been in previous rounds, and to have the championship decided in sketchy conditions is rather tough, but I can put my hand on my heart and say that I gave it my absolute all." 

Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes dominated the final round of the BSB Championship with a career-first triple win proving he still has the skill and determination to fight for the Championship title next season, but with what team is still to be announced.