John Reynolds gunned the Verwood-based Rizla Suzuki team to their first Superbike win of the season at Brands Hatch.

The former champion, pictured, just lost out after a terrific scrap with the dominant Shane Byrne in the first of the races on the grand prix track at Brands.

But Reynolds, fully recovered from the broken collar bone which dogged him over the early stages of the season, had the last laugh over Byrne, himself shaken up by a heavy fall in practice.

Second time out, Reynolds fended off the Monster Mob Ducati star until the last lap when Byrne swept past. But, round Clearways, the last corner, Reynolds bravely stuck the Suzuki in front again to end Byrne's long winning run.

Hamble engineer Fran Williamson stayed strongly in contention for the Privateers Cup with second and third places in that category on his Hanson Brick Yamaha.

John Crockford's chances of challenging for the British Supersport Championship received another setback when he crashed out of the Brands Hatch race.

The Padgett Honda rider qualified for the second row but suffered a poor start and was looking to make up places when he lost the front wheel going into Stirlings.

Crockford said: "After two podiums in the first three races I can't believe I've had three races where my best result was tenth. All I want to do now is to get up to Rockingham and show what we are capable of. We can win on this bike and I won't be satisfied until I have proved it."

It was a bad day for the Padgett's team, with Adrian Coates crashing out at Druids Hairpin late in the race after fighting himself up to seventh.

Dean Thomas grabbed a last-gasp win over championship leader Karl Harris as the bikes crossed the line.

Jamie Morley from Waterlooville was eighth in the National Superstock race aboard his Lloyds Autobody Suzuki while Winchester's James Hillier was ninth in the Virgin Mobile Yamaha R6 Cup. Hillier is now sponsored by Eddalls Carpets.