If there were any doubts over Shane Byrne’s fitness ahead of the first MCE Insurance British Superbike Showdown round then he blew them out of the water on his return to action at Assen.

The Sittingbourne rider was laid low for rounds eight and nine of the season with a shoulder injury – opting not to ride because his place in the top six that enter the Showdown for the title was secured by then.

Still it was uncertain as to how sharp the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider would be in the Netherlands but there need not have been any worries as he stormed to victory in race one. Byrne (pictured) had to settle for second in race two, however his position in the overall standings is now as healthy as he is – the rider jumping from third to second.

While he was some way off top spot before Assen, Byrne is now just two points shy of new leader and race two winner Josh Brookes and confident for the next five races that await.

"All weekend I rode without painkillers and strapping to understand where we were and even if someone had given me a kick in the nuts I wouldn’t have felt it as I was that happy with how things went," said Byrne.

"I had done everything that was possible to be in the position that I was in; if I could have only finished 15th then that would have been my absolute best but it worked out well for us over the weekend."

Byrne also enjoyed a slice of good fortune that was out of his control at Assen as the leader heading to the Netherlands Tommy Hill suffered a freak pre-race one accident that meant he failed to finish.

Hill, the defending BSB champion, is now 20 points off Byrne in third place with the short turn around in races – round 11 at Silverstone is this weekend.

Byrne added: "I was leading the Championship after the first race but unfortunately Josh and I changed positions in the standings after the second race. But it doesn’t matter until that last round at Brands Hatch. All credit to the team and we go to Silverstone happy, so onwards and upwards from there."

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