Shakey's scooter wind-up

The niggling war of words between Rizla Suzuki team manager Simon Buckmaster and Stobart Honda team owner Paul Bird just won’t go away.

It erupted when Buckmaster said Bird’s Stobart Honda rider Shane Byrne would not be able to compete with the factory teams.

Bird was willing to accept Buckmaster’s offer of a bet that the Rizla Suzuki rider Chris Walker would beat Byrne in the championship but then suddenly cried off.

At Guadix Byrne asked a Rizla Suzuki mechanic to borrow a scooter to nip to the toilet but was caught by Buckmaster returning it.

Shakey revealed: “Buckmaster said, ‘can’t Birdy afford to buy you guys a couple of scooters then?’

“So I replied, ‘Simon he’s got enough money to buy what he wants – and he’s willing to put it where his mouth is!”