Shakey ready to race

Shane Byrne says he can’t wait for the first BSB round of 2007 at Brands Hatch on April 9, 2007 after yet another successful test at Knockhill this week.

Shakey had one minor slip-off in the two day test but was in high spirits when he spoke to MCN today (Friday).

“It was a mega test for us,” said Shakey.

“We set good times both days but more important it gave us a chance to cover old ground with fork settings, shock and linkages just to confirm what we found out at the other tests.

“I said after Guadix that I was ready to race and things haven’t changed. Snetterton and Knockhill have been really good.

“I know I could have gone quicker at Snetterton if we hadn’t had some minor bike problems in the final session. I’m not saying I could have beaten Johnny Rea’s times but I’m pretty confident we could have match the Ducati times.

“We’ve got two different sets of forks and a lot of different settings and, to be honest, I could race with any of them. We’ve also got direction for the shock and link to use at Brands so I’m peaking.”

The 30-year-old , who suffered his first crash in testing for the season at Knockhill, said: “It was the end of the day on an old tyre and I just went out to try something. It was quite cold and I don’t think I gave the tyre enough time to get heat into.

“I went into the kink just before the chicane, rolled it and the rear came around on me. It snapped upright and I thought I’d saved it but I ran onto the grass at a weird angle. I wrestled with the old girl but she beat me in the end.”

Shakey’s bike was barely damaged – save for scratched paint and bent handlebar.

He said: “It’s never nice to crash but was actually nice to have such a little one. All testing I’ve not even been fired out of the saddle, the bike has been that good straight out of the box.

“I’m just looking forward to Brands because I really think we can go well there.”

Shakey’s team-mate Tom Sykes was also on the pace, as he was at Snetterton. He also suffered one crash but was unhurt.

HM Plant Honda’s Jonathan Rea was again the pace setting at the test – as he has been virtually throughout all the pre-season tests.