Byrne doesn’t hold a grudge after Laverty crash
Added on Monday, September 12th, 2011 by Carole Nash Editor
Byrne doesn’t hold a grudge after Laverty crash
This past weekend saw the Showdown for the BSB Championship begin, and it was adrenalin fuelled from the first corner, when Shane Byrne and Michael Laverty clashed, both ending up in the gravel pit. But Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne certainly isn’t holding a grudge, saying that the crash was no-one’s fault and that there’s “no malice” in the BSB championship.
The summit of the first corner, Redgate, on the first lap was the site of the clash, which saw both riders come off of their bikes. Byrne was back on his bike first and managed to fight his way back to eighth, while Swan Yamaha’s Laverty managed a respectable 14th place and picked up two crucial championship points in the process.
However, with both men knocked out of the lead, it means that double winner John Hopkins and Tommy Hill have distanced themselves at the top of the table, making that championship title even harder to reach for those trailing behind in the standings.
After the race, Byrne said: “The crash in the second race was nobody’s fault. I got a good start and was alongside John Hopkins. I waited till he braked and I was thinking this is going to be touch and go. Next thing I hear is a crashing noise on the inside.
There’s no ill will in the BSB paddock however, with the HM Plant Honda rider adding: “I don’t hold anything against Michael Laverty as no-one takes unnecessary risks. There is no malice. We all want to win the championship,”
Laverty, on a similar note, added: “I was feeling confident for the second race and I wanted to get to the front as soon as possible. Shakey had done the same move in race one and we went for the apex but he hadn’t seen me. It is frustrating but it was a racing incident.
“It will be an uphill task now but we knew we had the pace which makes it even more disappointing. The pressure is slightly off me now as I can just try for wins rather than being too conservative but anything can still happen and I will fight until the bitter end for the title.”
