Champion Shane Byrne finished runner-up to Alex Lowes in both races at Donington Park when the regular season finished on Sunday.

Byrne will now go into the three-round British Superbike Showdown with a six-point lead over closest rival Lowes.

His Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team found some speed after a tough start to the weekend which left Byrne questioning his chances.

The Sittingbourne rider even went close to a race one victory.

Byrne said: “The boys made some changes and then in the race I got a good start and Alex was setting a great pace.

“Fortunately there were some places where I was faster and I lined up something that I thought would be good enough for the last lap.

“But as a exited Coppice, I went for fourth gear and got neutral instead, which meant I lost my drive.”