WSB Valencia: Shakey down but not out

Shane Byrne saw his chances of a front row qualifying position disappear in Superpole 2 when he high sided his Sterilgarda spectacularly.

The 33 year old Brit was on a fast lap, holding second through the first split, but his charge came to an abrupt end when he lost the rear of his Ducati which threw him high up into the air before landing heavily.

The reigning BSB champion was quickly back on his feet but then stopped holding his side in obvious discomfort.

Speaking exclusively to MCN, Byrne said:
“I put a new qualifier in, scrubbed it in really well, my lap was going good and everything felt mega. I got into the long left but had a slide even though I only had a tiny bit of throttle dialled in.

“I got on the throttle just to get the bike settled and ready to ride and the back came around on me and hung there. There was nothing I could do. You can’t nail the throttle and spin the rear out of the slide and you can’t gently roll the throttle off. It feels like you’ve just ridden off the edge of the tyre.

“I’m actually fine, I’ve grazed my side a bit because I think the bike hit me in the crash, but apart from that I’m fine.”

Despite the crash and 12th place qualifying position, Shakey remains upbeat after finally getting dialled into the tight and twisty Spanish circuit.

“I got it all working better by using both bikes during the sessions on Saturday and I’m also finally clicking with this circuit now. I think the lap time I did in Superpole two would have been good enough for a front row in the third session.

“I’ve done a low 1m 35s on a race tyre, there are guys that have done 34’s but I can’t see them doing that all race long which bodes well for me.

“If I was down in 19th and crashing I’d be worried but I’m not. I think a lot of it is me trying too hard and making little mistakes but despite the crash I’m feeling more comfortable. Now I just need to get a good start like I did in race two at Qatar and try and get away at the front.”