Not only is the MCE British Superbike Championship back this weekend but so is Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne.

Having had to sit out the opening two races of the season at Donington Park with concussion due to a race day warm up crash, he is determined to get back on track and his title defence underway.

The Sittingbourne rider plans to reduce the points gap to rival Leon Haslam at his local track where he has won seven times, including at the corresponding meeting last year, where he took the first victory for the brand new Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Byrne said: “I’m very hopeful of getting my title defence off to a far better start during round two at Brands Hatch than I did at Donington Park, that’s for sure!

“To be fair that shouldn’t be at all difficult seeing as a crash in warm up put me out of the round one races, so I’m a little behind having missed those races.”

“But the plan is to make up for it in a big way this bank holiday weekend and where better than at my local circuit of Brands Hatch. I always enjoy racing there and am counting on plenty of support.”

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