Title challenger Shane Byrne endured a tough weekend at Oulton Park as he failed to finish on the podium in all three races.
The weekend had started brightly for Byrne as he set the fastest-ever lap of the Cheshire circuit to take pole for Saturday’s race.
This would turn out to be the only high point of the weekend however as a slide midway through the opening race caused the four-time champion to finish ninth.
Things got worse for Byrne and the Be Wiser Ducati team in race two as the 39-year-old slid off the Panigale R machine, at low speed, at Hizzy’s Chicane.
Byrne would battle back from a low grid slot in race three to end the day with a fifth place. The damage had already been done however as main title rival, Leon Haslam, took victory in all three races.
A disappointed Byrne commented: “That was a difficult weekend and we’ve left without the results we wanted or deserved. From setting the fastest ever lap yesterday to not scoring a race win or even a podium is disappointing but that’s racing. The slip yesterday cost us a podium and then a crash today in the second race really put us on the back foot for the third race so it was always going to be tough given the pace this weekend.
“Although I’ve surrendered a lot of Podium Points to Leon here, I’m in the Showdown and now going to three tracks I love so I’ll be going out all guns blazing to get back to winning ways starting at Donington next weekend. Thanks to my team as ever for doing a great job.”
Byrne now finds himself three points behind Haslam in the Showdown standings and it looks although the championship will go down to the wire.
First up for Byrne and the other five riders involved in the Showdown battle is Donington Park this weekend.
