BSB: Byrne recovery takes another step forward

Six-time Bennetts British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has said he won’t know whether he will be able to make a return to competitive action until November, despite taking another step forward in his recovery today.

The 41-year-old badly broke his neck and back in several places in a testing crash at Snetterton in May and has been fighting a long battle to recovery since.  

After visiting his surgeon at the Norwich and Norfolk University Hospital this morning, Byrne was told he could remove the neck brace he has been wearing since having his ‘halo’ frame removed in July.

However, while this latest step may appear to be a big one with Byrne now wearing no form of neck support for the first time since the crash in May, the reigning champion has said he’s still no closer to knowing if he’ll be able to return to racing.

“It’s obviously quite a big thing to be able to take the collar off, but there’s no news in terms of whether a complete recovery is possible” Byrne told MCN on his way back from the hospital.

“I’m so happy not to have to wear anything around my neck anymore, but we’ve got a couple more months to wait before we’ll find out more about the recovery. I have to have a CT scan in November and from that hopefully the surgeons will be able to see whether the neck is going to heal enough for me to be able to race again.”

While unable to commit to any future plans until he knows how well the neck will heal, MCN understands Byrne has been in talks with several BSB teams about potential rides for the 2019 season should he be able to return.