Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne to Sue MSVR Over Career-Ending Crash

The most successful rider in British Superbike history will sue the BSB series organiser over the safety equipment at the circuit where a testing crash ended his career.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was seriously injured in a crash at the Snetterton Circuit in Norfolk, a track owned and operated by MotorSport Vision (MSV) since 2004. Byrne was riding at the venue in a test event when he lost control of his bike and left the track. Byrne and his lawyer argue that, had appropriate air fencing been in place at the location of the incident, Byrne’s career-ending spinal injuries might not have been quite so severe. 

Byrne is now taking the circuit owner, MSV, BSB series organiser, MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR) and the sport's governing body, the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board (MCRCB) to court, reportedly suing those mentioned for £1 million.

MSV, MSVR and the MCRCB deny responsibility for the incident, claiming that Byrne should have taken more care of his safety. The Daily Mail also reports that the accident wasn’t 'reasonably foreseeable' in the eyes of the organisers, who also argue that installing air fencing is no guarantee of safety and that collisions with the protective equipment can be ‘unpredictable’.

Since retiring from racing after the crash, Byrne has forged a successful career working as a broadcaster covering BSB racing and also as a rider mentor, coach, and manager to the rider Bradley Ray.