British Superbike champion Shane Byrne signs on for another year with the Paul Bird’s Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team
Shane Byrne will be
challenging for a record breaking fourth British Superbike crown
after agreeing to stay with the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team for
another season.
Last season’s champion was
given a choice of racing for Paul Bird’s MotoGP team or the chance
to make history in the British championship.
The Sittingbourne ace
(pictured) said: "The option of staying with my
championship-winning team on a great bike in BSB was too strong a
temptation to resist.
"We are within sight of some
records and so for the first time ever in my career, I am riding
for the same team again but it wasn’t really a difficult decision
to make.
"We are going into 2013 even
stronger and with a few improvements to the bike as well as me
training harder than ever, I’m hoping I can defend the title but it
won’t be easy."
Byrne added a third British
Superbike title to his name earlier this year but nobody has gone
onto win four. He is also just two wins away from matching the
record of fellow triple champion Ryuichi Kiyonari, who holds the
all-time record with 43 race victories.
Team boss Paul Bird said: "We
came back to Britain for one thing only and that was for us to win
the title and now we aim to defend it as we’ve never had a rider do
that.
"Shakey proved he was the
dominant force last season and there’s no reason why he can’t do it
again."
Byrne will return next year with a new-team mate, as
reigning National Superstock 1000 champion Keith Farmer was also
signed on for the 2013 season.
20/11/12
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