SHAKEY MAKES WELCOME RETURN TO KNOCKHILL
14 July 2006 - Rizla-Suzuki

RIZLA SUZUKI’S Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne finished a comfortable fifth fastest in today’s practice for the eighth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill in Scotland.

Shakey is the lone rider for Rizla Suzuki at Knockhill as his team mate James Haydon continues to recuperate from a broken left foot and injured shoulder sustained at the previous round four weeks ago.

He ended the day less than four tenths of a second behind Honda’s Jonathan Rea who topped the time sheets.

On his last visit to Knockhill in 2003 Shakey topped the podium and is happy to be back at the 1.29-mile long spectacular circuit in Fife, especially as the sun is shining and the track is dry. He said: “I am really happy to be back in Scotland, I have some good memories racing here.

“My Rizla Suzuki is good. I have a comfortable front end that is giving me plenty of confidence in the brakes and turning in. We have worked hard today on finding rear end grip and it is getting better every time I ride the bike.

“I am building my speed and we have more changes to try and improve the bike tomorrow. With a bit of luck the good weather will stay for race day and I will be able to challenge at the front.”

Rizla Suzuki Race Operations Manager Niall Mackenzie said: “Shakey looks good around the circuit, he is in control and has quite a bit to spare that I am sure we will see tomorrow. He’s relaxed and enjoying himself which is when he tends to perform at his best.”

Superbike racing starts at 1300 on Sunday 16th July at Knockhill in Fife, Scotland. The racing will be televised on ITV1 at 1500 and on Sky Sports 2 at 2100.

Practice Times: 1: Jonathan Rea (Honda) 48.709, 2: Leon Haslam (Ducati) +0.065, 3: Gregorio Lavilla (Ducati) +0.086, 4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.187, 5: SHANE BYRNE (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.391, 6: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +0.491, 7: Karl Harris (Honda) +0.561, 8: Michael Rutter (Honda) +0.636, 9: Glen Richards (Honda) +0.747, 10: Michael Laverty (Honda) +0.884.

www.rizla-suzuki.co.uk

More News
  For July 2006
  From Rizla-Suzuki
  For British Superbike
  Biker247.com Home Page