KENT motorcyclist Shane Byrne is gearing up for the start of the MotoGP season with testing sessions around the world.

The Aprilia rider, from Minster on Sheppey, has been testing in Malaysia and Australia as he gets to grips with his RS3 bike.

The Phakisa Freeway track in South Africa is the venue for the first race on April 18. Byrne said: “I’ll be on the track with the finest motorcyclists in the world.

“Last year, my aim was to win every race but this year I’m hoping to get a few top 10 finishes. It’ll be practically impossible to wish for anything else in the first season.

“I’ve worked all my career to get to this point and it’ll give me a kick just to be on the grid but now I’ve got to get my head down and get up to speed with the rest of the riders and hopefully spend the rest of my career in Moto GP.”