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Saturday, 19th April 2008

Wet or dry, Shane Byrne is the man to beat in 2008 on the Airwaves Ducati. The 2003 champion sits on pole for both Thruxton races.

Byrne, a former Aprilia and Team Roberts MotoGP rider, set his pole time right at the end of a wet qualifying session and gambled a bit on the drying track to nick top spot from his rivals.

"I'm very pleased but credit must go to the team," he said. "We took a bit of a gamble late on as the track was going through a wet/dry phase.

"The team sent me out on a softer tyre and told me to go steady for a lap then really push. The decision clearly paid off!

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"Tomorrow I would prefer wet or dry, one or the other, but we have proved to be on the pace in either.

Team-mate Camier, the Supersport lap record holder and a podium finisher last year, improved after a difficult day on Friday. He will start sixth.

"Physically I felt better today and I am satisfied with how qualifying has gone," he said.

"I don't feel that far off and I am not disappointed with my performance as there is more to come.

"This has been my first time in the wet on the bike and on Pirelli's so sixth is good enough. As long as I get a good start in the race I should be right there.”

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