Recently crowned 2008 British Superbike Champion, Shane “Shakey” Byrne, signed off his season and his career in the UK’s premier class with a fantastic double victory in the final round at Brands Hatch on Sunday.

The two times British Champion has been dominant throughout the campaign, with ten victories, six second places and five third place finishes , an astonishing 21 podiums out of 24 races.

“Shakey” already had a victory to his name at the circuit in 2008 and was hopeful of a good result after he managed to take pole position in the new Formula One style qualifying session on the Saturday afternoon.

Shane didn’t get the start he wanted in race one, but was soon hounding the leader Cal Crutchlow around the tight and twisting Brands Hatch Indy circuit. After making several test runs he finally made a pass at Druids to take the lead, a position he wasn’t to relinquish. Having won the championship in the previous round at Silverstone, “Shakey”, who hadn’t stood on the top step since Mallory Park, was able to go out and push for the victory.

Byrne said: "I have really been able to let my hair down this weekend now the championship is won and I am really enjoying this event. We have been really strong with the Airwaves Ducati all weekend and now I just want to go out in race two and make it a double.”

As the field lined up for race two the tension was high, with many of the top BSB riders moving up to the World Superbike series in 2009, everyone was keen to sign off with a victory but none more so than Shane Byrne.

Leon Haslam leapt out the front on the start from Tom Sykes, Cal Crutchlow, James Ellison with Shane in fifth and with some work to do.

He moved his way through the pack until he sat behind race leader, Leon Haslam, stalking his prey waiting for the moment to make the move. Leon Haslam was riding exceptionally well considering he was suffering from an injured shoulder sustained in qualifying.

As the laps ticked down it appeared that Shane wouldn’t be able to get the double that he had desired as Leon had an answer for any and every move until on the final lap whilst approaching a backmarker, the leaders chose different routes allowing “Shakey” to get the upper hand and win the sprint to the line.

Byrne said: "I really don't know what to say, that was one of my best races this year and all credit to Leon Haslam in that race as he did a fantastic job. I was running at a good pace and I knew I just had to close on Leon and I tried to make a pass at Paddock Hill and he just held the line and I couldn't get through. I was lucky with a backmarker and had the better line and was able to use it to my advantage."

Shane finished the season with an amazing 474 points and has signed to ride for the Sterilgarda Ducati Squad in the World Superbike Championship for 2009, where he’ll be hoping to add the World crown to go with his British title.