Byrne And Irwin Confident Ahead Of Oulton Park
The Be Wiser Ducati British Superbike Championship Team head to Oulton Park this weekend full of confidence and looking to continue their winning ways in round nine of the 2016 MCE British Shane ByrneSuperbike Championship.
Shane Byrne has been in stellar form once again this season and leads the title race going into the final round of the Main Season having taken at least one victory in the past six rounds aboard the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R. The 39-year-old Londoner has already clinched his place in the title-deciding Showdown which comprises the final three rounds following victory last time out at Cadwell Park.
The main focus for ‘Shakey’ is now to increase his Podium Points advantage over his rivals and with a triple-header weekend, he can add a vital 15 of those to his tally if things go his way as he searches for BSB title number five. Byrne has won ten times at the Cheshire track over the years and is confident of adding to that success this weekend.
Also looking to continue his impressive recent run for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team once again is Ulsterman Glenn Irwin who continues his great form in his rookie season aboard the Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R.
The 26-year-old from Carrickfergus claimed his maiden BSB podium at Thruxton three rounds ago and has been challenging for another podium at the last couple of rounds meaning he has an outside chance of making the Showdown.
However, whilst it’s mathematically possible, it’s a long shot so he will be aiming to secure a hat-trick of decent results safe in the knowledge that if he makes the podium alongside his team-mate, he will be taking vital Podium Points off Byrne’s rivals in the process.
Shane Byrne: “I’m really looking forward to the last of the pre-Showdown rounds at Oulton Park and having cemented my place at the last round at Cadwell Park, in some ways the pressure’s off a little. However, I don’t work like that, I look at this final round being a triple header as a great opportunity to score a potential 15 more Podium Points in order to start the Showdown with the biggest possible advantage. Oulton Park is a fantastic track and I can’t wait to ride this weekend!”
Glenn Irwin: “I can’t wait to race at Oulton Park, after leaving my weakest circuit at Cadwell Park with a decent haul of points which has given me a lot of confidence. I’m sure with a good, clean weekend Glenn Irwinwe can again achieve solid results in my rookie season at a track I have enjoyed success at before. I’m really looking forward to this weekend and there’s no reason why I can’t be challenging for podiums again”
MCE BSB Championship Positions (after eight rounds)
1 S Byrne 272pts
2 L Haslam 251
3 J O’Halloran 211
4 M Laverty 147
5 D Linfoot 145
6 J Ellison 140
12 Irwin 88