The second round out of the three that comprise the Showdown in the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship makes its now traditional foray over the North Sea to the TT Circuit Assen where Shane Byrne goes in search of glory this weekend.Having led the series for most of the year aboard the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R for Paul Bird’s Lake District-based team, five times and defending champion ‘Shakey’ endured a disappointing opening round of the Showdown at Oulton Park last time out to drop down to third in the standings, 23 points behind series leader Leon Haslam.

So arriving at Assen, the Sittingbourne-based rider knows he can’t afford any further slip-ups if he’s to add title number six to his tally and the plan is to take the battle back to his rivals and hopefully add to his double victories at Snetterton and Brands Hatch in mid-season, as well as the one at Oulton Park earlier in the year.

Byrne has won twice at Assen and finished runner-up to Haslam in both races last year but that’s not an option this time around as he goes all in with a view to reducing the gap to Haslam and Josh Brookes in order to take the fight to his local Brands Hatch track next month for the three-race finale to the thrilling 2017 season.

Speaking ahead of the weekend, Byrne said: “The recent run of tracks and the lack of results we’ve had lately, means only one option, and that is I have to win all remaining five races starting with the two at Assen this weekend.

“If I do that, even if Leon finishes second to me in every race, I’ll be the champion but it’s nowhere near as simple as that. I’d like to think I perform well under pressure and with the pressure of a title defence and the expectations of the team, manufacturer, sponsors, fans, friends and family upon me, I intend to do my very best to make this happen.”