Shane Byrne reclaimed the British Superbike Championship at Silverstone on Sunday - five years after his first title success.

Byrne’s third-place finish in race one was enough to give him an unassailable lead in the series with one round to go.

His team-mate Leon Camier won the race, with Cal Crutchlow second.

“It is such a massive relief to win the championship,” Byrne said.

“I wanted to win so much for the Airwaves Ducati team and repay them for all their hard work. To win the championship is a reward for the team as without them it wouldn’t be possible. They make everything work and I just ride the bike.

“Thanks to GSE Racing and Airwaves Ducati I am back at the top again. I am going to kick back and let it all sink in and then probably have a bit of a party at Brands Hatch.”

The last round of the championship takes place on October 12 at the Kent circuit.

Byrne went into the penultimate round needing a top-10 finish and cruised towards the podium as bike after bike crashed out in front of him.

He said: “I came round the first lap in eighth and I was actually quite settled as I knew that was enough to take the championship, but then riders kept throwing themselves off into the scenery.”

Byrne finished the weekend with second place behind Leon Haslam in race two.

“In the second race I was much more relaxed and I made a few passes early on and was running second," Byrne said.

"I wanted to catch Leon but he just had that tiny bit too much.”

Byrne and GSE Racing will part company after Brands as Byrne aims for success in the World Superbike Championship.

He said: “Next season is going to be different, but it is still not confirmed where I will be racing. However, it will be in the World Superbike Championship.

“I have built up lots of friends in BSB over the years and racing in the UK is fantastic, but you have to be looking forward.”