Defending champion Shane Byrne leads the way again after the first races of the British Superbike season at Donington Park

James Ellison and defending British Superbike champion Shane Byrne shared the victories in the opening round of the 2015 season at Donington Park.

Ellison led throughout the first race on his JG Speedfit Kawasaki to beat Byrne by 0.131secs, with Josh Brookes running third on the Milwaukee Yamaha.

However, things then went wrong for Cumbrian rider Ellison, as a flat battery meant a back of the grid start in the second race.

Although he battled through to 12th place, he was powerless to do anything as Byrne used his PBM Kawasaki to head off Honda's Dan Linfoot by half a second.

Byrne and Linfoot fought out a fantastic battle at the front and the lead changed five times on lap 17, but Byrne eventually managed to get in front for good.

Byrne said: “To have good old fashioned bumping and racing with Dan, who is young and keen, in that race, reminded me a lot of how I raced with Alex (former Honda Racing rider Alex Lowes) in 2013.

"Dan rode really well and, to be honest, I just wanted someone in front of me, because every time I got in front I made little mistakes, as I am a little rusty.

“Now we can build off this and the PBM Kawasaki will only get stronger. I am only going to get stronger and fitter myself, and I think we can be even stronger going into the next races.”

Victory number 62 for four-time champion Byrne gives him the early edge in the championship standings. He has 45 points, with Linfoot on 33 and Ellison on 29.

Japan’s Ryuichi Kiyonari endured a tough start to the 2015 season, despite having qualified on pole for race one.

He struggled to maintain his pace in that race, eventually finishing 14th, and then crashed out of the second race.

British Superbike Championship Rd 1, Donington Park, Leicestershire, England

Race 1:

1 James Ellison (Gbr) Kawasaki 31mins 05.460secs

2 Shane Byrne (Gbr) Kawasaki 31:05.591

3 Josh Brookes (Aus) Yamaha 31:14.572

4 Dan Linfoot (Gbr) Honda 31:14.630

5 Peter Hickman (Gbr) BMW 31:16.736

6 Tommy Bridewell (Gbr) BMW 31:21.599

7 Christian Iddon (Gbr) Suzuki 31:22.741

8 Chris Walker (Gbr) Kawasaki 31:28.236

9 Michael Laverty (Gbr) BMW 31:28.375

10 Richard Cooper (Gbr) Kawasaki 31:28.916

Race 2:

1 Shane Byrne (Gbr) Kawasaki 30mins 15.457secs

2 Dan Linfoot (Gbr) Honda 30:16.046

3 Stuart Easton (Gbr) Kawasaki 30:16.788

4 Peter Hickman (Gbr) BMW 30:18.800

5 Christian Iddon (Gbr) Suzuki 30:19.696

6 Josh Brookes (Aus) Yamaha 30:20.784

7 Michael Laverty (Gbr) BMW 30:24.243

8 Tommy Bridewell (Gbr) BMW 30:24.768

9 Billy McConnell (Aus) BMW 30:26.388

10 Chris Walker (Gbr) Kawasaki 30:26.803

Championship Standings:

1 Byrne Shane (Gbr) Kawasaki 45pts

2 Dan Linfoot (Gbr) Honda 33

3 James Ellison (Gbr) Kawasaki 29

4 Josh Brookes (Aus) Yamaha 26

5 Peter Hickman (Gbr) BMW 24

6 Stuart Easton (Gbr) Kawasaki 21

7 Christian Iddon (Gbr) Suzuki 20

8 Tommy Bridewell (Gbr) BMW 18

9 Michael Laverty (Gbr) BMW 16

10 Chris Walker (Gbr) Kawasaki 14