It was a weekend that promised so much for Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne but in the end delivered little for the four time MCE British Superbike Champion, at the latest round of the season at Oulton Park. 

Despite claiming pole position with an historic fastest ever lap around the Cheshire circuit yesterday, four-times champion Byrne’s hopes of increasing his lead in the title race were dashed when a big slide in the weekend’s first of three races saw him eventually cross the line in ninth place.

Any hopes of redeeming the situation in the second race were scuppered when the 39-year-old Londoner slid off the factory-backed Ducati Panigale R at low speed at the Hizzy’s Chicane to deny him any points before bouncing back from a lowly grid position to take a battling fifth position in today’s third and final race for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team.

Having already qualified for the title-deciding Showdown, Byrne, seven times a winner this season, was unable to add any Podium Points to his tally which stands at 43, although main title rival Leon Haslam overhauled him following a triple victory to lead by three Podium Points going into next weekend’s opening Showdown round at Donington Park.

Speaking after a tough weekend, Byrne said: “That was a difficult weekend and we’ve left without the results we wanted or deserved. From setting the fastest ever lap yesterday to not scoring a race win or even a podium is disappointing but that’s racing.

“The slip yesterday cost us a podium and then a crash today in the second race really put us on the back foot for the third race so it was always going to be tough given the pace this weekend.

“Although I’ve surrendered a lot of Podium Points to Leon here, I’m in the Showdown and now going to three tracks I love so I’ll be going out all guns blazing to get back to winning ways starting at Donington next weekend. Thanks to my team as ever for doing a great job.”

Images courtesy of www.psp-images.co.uk