Byrne 'crossing everything' for Australia.

Shane Byrne has revealed he still has a slim chance of riding for Camel Honda in the Australian Grand Prix, on October 16 at Phillip Island, despite speculation that the seat will be given to WSBK star Chris Vermeulen.

Byrne finished 14th and 13th respectively in his first two races on an RCV, at Malaysia and Qatar, after being given the last minute call-up to replace the injured Troy Bayliss at Sito Pons' team.

However, Honda contracted rider Vermeulen will be free from his Superbike duties after this weekend and is expected to make his MotoGP debut with the Camel team in Australia - although no official decision has yet been made.

"I've taken a lot of positives from (Qatar) and feel like I did a pretty good job," Byrne wrote on his official website shakey.com "The most positive thing of all was the comments Sito made whilst sat down with me after the race:

"He told me that in my second time on the bike I was fast enough to finish in the top 7 or 8, that I'd done a very good job, pointed out that my average off of Alex (Barros) was about 0.4secs per lap and that I was lapping faster than Tamada - who's won two races - and kept the bike upright and moved forward every time I got on it.

"It's real nice as a rider when someone who really knows says good things about you, Sito's won two world championships, he knows his sh*t - Kenny (Roberts) said all I need is time on a good bike and I've come away from Qatar knowing that in just two weekends on a good bike I'm fast enough to finish inside the top ten.

"After the race Sito asked 'what do you think?' So I replied that he should let me ride again in Australia so that I can get that top ten and to be fair he never said no. I think he's in the middle of a situation that won't be sorted for a couple of days but regardless it seems if it was his choice we could carry on, so obviously I'm absolutely made up with that. Now I've got to cross everything and hope that happens.

"After I got changed out of my leathers I really, really didn't want to pack my stuff away because I knew that it meant the end of riding for that team - unless this chance in Australia happens. I was gutted, I just sat there looking at the leathers thinking how much I think the colour yellow suited me!

"For now though it's time to say a load of massive thank yous, first to Sito for putting my name forward for the ride, to Honda Europe for proposing me to Honda Japan, to Honda Japan for allowing me to ride, to my team for all their hard work over the past couple of weeks, to Alex for his help and advice, and to Alpinestars for getting my suits ready at such short notice... Fingers crossed for the future!"