World Superbikes
24 hours after clinching the British Superbikes Championship, Byrne confirmed that he would contest the 2009 World Superbikes championship with the Sterilgarda Ducati team, teamed with Alex Polita. This was his first full-time World Superbike campaign, although he has made successful wild card appearances in the past. Byrne became Sterilgarda Ducati's sole rider in February (due to apparent financial problems forcing Polita out) and recorded his first podium with the team, a second place, in the first race at the San Marino round of the championship.
Due to financial problems, the Sterilgarda team failed to announce its intention to compete in the 2010 Superbike World Championship season, leaving Byrne without a confirmed ride for 2010. In November 2009, Byrne announced that he signed for the Althea Racing team for the 2010 season. He raced alongside former Honda rider Carlos Checa. He was well behind Checa in performance, had no top five finishes by midseason, and said he was "bitterly disappointed" with the season as a whole.
Read more about this topic: Shane Byrne (motorcycle Racer)
Famous quotes containing the word world:
“I have lived in both worlds. And I think I prefer, to the indifferent, haphazard, money- mad hurry of the Outside World, that of my world; that sympathy and understanding grown shadowy since I have been away from it so long, still is more real to me than the world I am in now. Not only the spangles and the gay trappings made it colorful; there was an inner color that warmed the soul. And that I miss.”
—Josephine Demott Robinson (1865–1948)