Title-chasing Shane Byrne says he has the pick of the British Superbike paddock after revealing he is yet to sign a new deal with Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki.

Byrne contacted team boss Paul Bird via text message to seek assurances over his future after the penultimate round of the championship at Silverstone last Sunday.

The Sittingbourne rider remains in Bird's plans but the pair haven't spoken formally.

Byrne said: "There's a lot of talk about what’s going to happen next year and obviously I'd love to be saying I'm doing X, Y or Z but at the moment I don't know.

"The only person pretty much that hasn't actually spoken to me about next season is my current team boss

"I think there’s a possibility to join pretty much any other team I want but the team I'm in, where I'm happy, haven't spoken to me.

"That said, on Sunday night, I did text Paul to say 'good weekend, I'm aware of the fact we haven’t spoken and I’m aware of the fact we did a deal at Silverstone last year and is everything all right, or do I need to be looking for another job?'

"He texted back saying ‘don't be stupid, everything's cool, we'll talk when I get back off holiday,’ so now I know there's potentially a ride for me in any single team in the paddock I want."