Shane Byrne enjoyed successful times at
Snetterton in the formative years of his career and now he is determined to turn around his season there in the seventh round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship.
The former winner of the title has had a tough time on his return to domestic action after the three years in the fast-lane of World
MotoGP but his technical input to the Rizla Suzuki team is making the telling difference.
At
Oulton Park he was running inches down on defending champion Gregorio Lavilla as he took a determined second place, followed by a third, and then last time out at
Mallory Park, despite struggling with a lack of grip Byrne was twice in the top five.
"Towards the end of those races I was running on the same pace as the leaders. Importantly, we have a few ideas on how to improve the bike further so I can get away with them and then we can really compete for the wins," explained Byrne, adding: "It’s onwards and upwards from here and I’ve decided it’s podiums for me from now on in."
Shakey has enjoyed successes over the years at the Norfolk circuit, from his club racing days, through to Superbikes: "I won my first ever British Championship race at Snetterton on a 600, so it has good memories for me, but now I intend to have more."
Byrne's team-mate James Haydon is racing against time to be fully fit, having suffered injuries to his left arm in a high speed crash during practice for the last round, and he too expects to be challenging for maximum points.
That should add to the developing front-running scraps for supremacy. Ryuichi Kiyonari put his HM Plant Honda onto top spot for only the second time this season with a strong performance at Mallory Park, but mainly it is Leon Haslam who is posing most of the questions as he hotly pursues his series leading Airwaves Ducati team-mate Lavilla.
The Spaniard is in dominant form, taking seven victories and three thirds, as he has piled up a massive 62 points lead in the title stakes. He is meticulous in his preparations and goes into these races at the Norfolk circuit, where last year he tasted victory in the afternoon’s second race, expecting even better returns.
Haslam is desperate to get ahead of him here. The young Derbyshire rider has title aspirations of his own, and with no team orders is trying everything he knows to achieve that season first victory. That is also uppermost on the mind of Karl Harris.
The Sheffield rider pressed Lavilla all of the way at Oulton Park and came close to enjoying the winner’s champagne for the first time as a Superbike rider. The three times winner of the British Supersport title needs to put his effort, aboard the second HM Plant Honda, firmly back on track here.
Michael Rutter and his Stobart Honda team-mate Michael Laverty are showing better form, but the biggest threat to Lavilla could be posed by Jonathan Rea, riding the
Red Bull Honda, who has shown speed and style, particularly in qualifying, to suggest he will soon be pressing for race glory
Adding to the action are the trio of Virgin Mobile Yamaha riders led by Tommy Hill; the twin Aussie challenge of the Hawk Kawasakis in the hands of Dean Thomas and Craig Coxhell; the triple challenge of the Vivaldi Suzukis and the Hydrex Hondas of Glen Richards and Gary Mason.
Chris Martin, riding the PR Branson Honda, will be bidding to extend his lead over James Buckingham in the chase for honours in the British Superbike Cup, with Marty Nutt moving into the equation after a strong points haul last time out.
Around the two Superbikes races, there is a full supporting programme featuring the British Supersport Championship, the Metzeler Racetec National Superstock Championship and Cup, the British 125GP Championship and the Virgin Mobile Cup.
