Byrne Doubt for Opening Round at Donington

Defending British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne ended yesterday’s testing in Almeria on route to hospital following a crash in the final session.

Byrne crashed out in the final session of the day at the circuit's fast turn six and was left battered and bruised by the high-side. The four-time Champion was first assessed at the circuit medical centre before travelling to the local hospital where Byrne underwent successful surgery on his left hand.

Byrne stated,

“I had a big off-throttle high-side, very similar to the one I had back at Silverstone in 2013. Unfortunately it was a big one and even more unfortunately I've broken my left hand which resulted in an operation last night to fix it. One of my knuckles disappeared down into my hand and broke it. The good news is though, as there's no point in dwelling on it, I was operated on and with some screws and plates it's all been put back together so I'm already on the mend.”

The doctor has said I need a month to heal up and be right which takes me exactly to the first round, but I'm planning on heading back to the UK now to jump in a hyperbaric chamber and get the bones lasered, so I'm hoping that'll increase the healing time considerably.

I've supposedly got to keep this cast on for two to three weeks, but I'll see what my guy in the UK says and do absolutely everything I possibly can to be ready for the Donington Park test in three weeks. Fingers (well not on my left hand) crossed guys and girls."