Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne from Sittingbourne speaks to FUCHS SILKOLENE, one of the main partners of the five-time British Superbike champion.

When I looked at the calendar at the start of the season, I always knew this would be an important period for me and the team.

Snetterton, Brands Hatch and Thruxton are three of my favourite circuits, partly because of the success I’ve had there in the past and partly because these are the ones which suit the bike best. I guess those two things go hand in hand.

I was over the moon with the performance at Snetterton. We dominated practice, smashed qualifying and then won both races. It was the perfect weekend in many ways. It doesn’t get much better than that.

The championship standings now make good reading. I’m still behind Luke Mossey but in terms of podium points, I’m top of the pile. All the pressure I felt early in the season about finishing in the top six for the Showdown is gone and I can start enjoying my racing again.

Everyone knows about my record at Brands Hatch, a circuit which is just half an hour from my home.

I had a bit of a nightmare here earlier in the season when I crashed out of the second race – but that was on the Indy track and this weekend we are on the GP circuit, which I know like the back of my hand.

Anything can happen in Superbike racing, of course, but with the bike purring and my confidence high, there is no reason why we shouldn’t be looking at another two wins.

I always have huge support at Brands Hatch and that is fantastic. It does increase the pressure to a degree because many of those in the stands have come to see me on the podium but I am someone who performs best under pressure.

At the age of 40, I am used to dealing with that sort of expectation. Sometimes pressure can help you find that little bit extra and, with the worries of making the top six
now in the past, I can afford to make moves I would’ve been wary of just a couple of rounds ago.

It’s been three weeks since the last round of the championship, which has given me some time with the family.

I also travelled to Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in California for the FIM Superbike World Championship to continue my media work with Eurosport and I’ve also enjoyed some downtime and training at my home in Spain.

As glamorous as this sounds, it’s great to be back in Britain and back on the bike. This week we’ve been testing at Cadwell Park and I feel fully prepared for Brands.