Byrne battles back for seventh win.

Shane Byrne has won what he describes as one of the finest races of his career after an astonishing ride to British Superbike victory at a wet and rainy Snetterton.

Effectively winning the race from 13th place after being delayed on the opening lap, 'Shakey' was relentless as he scythed his way through the field to take a remarkably comfortable seventh win of the season over team-mate Leon Camier.

With the race delayed by more than an hour when the combination of a sudden shower and a lengthy clean-up operation from an earlier race, the second race of the day began in damp conditions.

At the start, Camier got the best getaway to win the race down to the greasy first bend, the Airwaves Ducati emerging out of the melee ahead of the fast starting Karl Harris and Byrne. Just behind, meanwhile, Scott Smart was the first victim when he tumbled off his Kawasaki coming out of the first corner.

The second loser would turn out to be Harris, who got out of shape at the Bombhole and dramatically high-sided off his Yamaha. Although most of the field dodged him, Byrne was brought to a virtual standstill as Harris clambered out of his immediate path.

Ending the first lap down in 13th place, it seemed Byrne's 100 per cent podium record this year was under a significant threat. By contrast, Camier was looking good for a double win as he established a good lead at the front.

He led Michael Rutter initially, although it was Cal Crutchlow who was soon giving chase as he recovered from another dismal start. All eyes were on Byrne though as he weaved his way through the traffic, passing some bikes two at a time on to end lap two in an outstanding seventh place.

The passing manoeuvres continued to come thick and fast, Byrne using Riches, the Esses and the Russell Chicane to make his way past his rivals. It was only when he reached Leon Haslam in third place that his mission began to stutter.

Struggling to find his way past the Honda, Byrne eventually made a pass stick on lap nine at Russell, but with just five laps of the shortened race to catch and pass Camier and Crutchlow four seconds up the road, Byrne had his work cut out.

And yet he didn't even need four laps, slipping past Crutchlow on lap 12 before denying Camier a superb double victory on the penultimate lap when he out-dragged him down to the Esses.

With the circuit all but dry as the chequered flag came out, Byrne crossed the line a clear 2.5secs up on Camier for his seventh win of the season, a result that increases his already huge championship lead to 83 points after just ten races.

Camier settled for second to give Airwaves Ducati their second 1-2 result of the day, a particularly significant performance given their weight increase this weekend. His breakthrough sees him move up to second in the standings ahead of Crutchlow, who ambled over the line in third place after an otherwise slightly disappointing two races.

Rutter secured a good fourth as Haslam hit tyre problems in the latter stages, the HM Plant Honda rider holding on for fifth as sixth place Michael Laverty suffered from the same issues.

Race one podium sitter Tom Sykes didn't look so comfortable in the wet conditions as he finished down in seventh, just ahead of Simon Andrews and Tristan Palmer, the latter doing well in the wet conditions to rise up from 13th on the grid. James Ellison rounded out the top ten.

In the Daily Star Cup, Gary Mason doubled up again on his Quay Garage Honda, with John Laverty and Tom Tunstall filling out the podium.