BYRNE FEELS THE HEAT
Champ revved-up for his toughest test yet
SHANE ‘SHAKEY’ BYRNE knows he will have a target on his back in tomorrow’s opening round of the British Superbike Championship at Donington Park.
The Be Wiser Ducati rider wants a repeat of his winning double at the Leicestershire circuit last season to give him the perfect start to his bid to take the crown for a record sixth time.
But he knows that he will have a fight on his hands.
Record
There is real strength in the pretenders to his title, with local hero and last season’s runner-up Leon Haslam posing real problems with his pace in free practice yesterday.
Riding the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, Haslam closed in on the lap record with a scorching time of 1min 29.323secs, holding off his young team-mate Luke Mossey by 0.132secs.
Aussie Josh Brookes, champion two years ago and back after a tough term on the world stage, put in a late charge on the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha for third.
Byrne, who set his fastest time in the opening session, was fifth quickest overall and lost much of the afternoon session due to a clutch problem.
That added to his frustration after parts aimed at improving the performance of his bike failed to arrive.
“It’s been a frustrating winter for me so it is ® good to be out there to blow away the cobwebs as we are short on testing laps compared to our rivals,” said Byrne.
“We got going with last year’s bike, testing in Spain was good but not ideal as we have been waiting for new bits to come and so far they have not.
“That’s not to say we do not have a good package here – the bike is the one we raced here last year and won two races with but it would have been nice to be that bit faster.
“The parts we are expecting should be with us shortly and they will make the bike even better.
“Donington is a circuit that I like. The plan has to be to push as hard as I can and get my title defence off to the best possible start.”
He will have to ride hard, though, as the pack threatens to close in on him.
James Ellison, riding the McAMS Yamaha, is up to speed as is former MotoGP rider John Hopkins – who escaped unhurt after tipping off his Moto Rapido Ducati at Craner Curves.
Ex-champion Sylvain Guintoli is also a big threat on the Bennetts Suzuki.