Byrne eyes Mackenzie BSB title hat-trick record

After claiming a historic sixth Bennetts British Superbike title, Shane Byrne is targeting new records in 2018 with Be Wiser Ducati by becoming the first rider to win three straight championships since Niall Mackenzie in the late 1990s.

Mackenzie clinched three consecutive BSB titles with the iconic Cadbury’s Boost Yamaha YZF750 between 1996 and 1998 which remains an unmatched feat in the series’ history.

All-time BSB title leader Byrne secured his first back-to-back championships last year with Be Wiser Ducati to extend his crown count to an unrivalled six. With Byrne returning on the unchanged package of the PBM-run Ducati Panigale R, the final year of the bike before it is replaced by Ducati’s new V4, he is aiming to match Mackenzie’s hat-trick of titles.

“I am excited for the first races of the season, we have almost an identical bike to what we won the championship with last season, albeit a new one, so that should help with us getting up to speed from the off,” Byrne said. “Last year was a big tick for me to defend a title for the first time and so the next aim has to be Mackenzie’s three in a row, which is funny because I remember when three titles was the goal and now I am on six.

“I will of course be pushing hard to add to that tally and it is an important weekend coming up at Donington Park.”

Byrne missed the opening BSB races in 2017 after suffering concussion in a morning warm-up crash at the Leicestershire circuit but having stormed to a dominant double victory the year before with Be Wiser Ducati, extending his wins count at the track to eight, the defending champion is confident of a strong start to 2018.

“We need to have a better start to the season than last year when I didn’t make it past warm-up,” he said. “In 2016 the Ducati worked well and we did the double so a repeat of that would be a nice way to start the season that’s for sure.

“I am so keen to get started now and see where we are at and where our competitors are at. It will be then time to create a battle plan and go from there.”