Shane Byrne already looks to be in a class of his own in the British Superbike Championship. Here's a new star surely in the making.

Aboard the Monster Mob Ducati which carried Steve Hislop to the British title last season, Byrne won both legs at Thruxton in emphatic style.

They call him Shaky, but Byrne looked solid as a rock as he twice brushed aside an early challenge from Renagade Ducati star Michael Rutter, who began the season favourite for the title but is already looking second best.

Indeed, defending champion Hislop, now getting to grips with Virgin Mobile Yamaha, relegated Rutter to third spot after Byrne had disappeared over the horizon in the first race.

The New Forest-based Rizla Suzuki team had a quiet day. Former champion John Reynolds is still troubled by the shoulder injury he suffered at Silverstone last month and finished well down the field.

His Japanese teammate, Yuko Kagayama, was subdued after news that his friend and countryman, Dajeiro Kato, had died after two weeks in a coma following his crash in the Japanese Grand Prix.

Second time out, Rutter led for just under half race distance but Byrne, having reeled him in, passed him and held on comfortably for his first-ever double in the Superbikes.

Rutter also held on for second but Hislop missed his breaking into the Club Chicane on the second last lap, letting Australia's Glen Richards through for a richly-deserved third place on the Hawk Kawasaki which was giving away a lot of power to the Ducatis and the ex-Colin Edwards world championship winning Honda of Steve Plater.

Hampshire's Fran Williamson was making a welcome return to the Superbikes aboard the Hanson Brick-sponsored Yamaha R7 and had the satisfaction of passing Reynolds in the second leg and then edging out former Superstock champion Paul Young for one of the minor places.