The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki duo of Shane Byrne and Stuart Easton head for Scotland and round four of the 2014 MCE British Superbike Championship in confident mood this weekend as the action takes place at Knockhill.
Triple MCE BSB champion Byrne leads the standings by a comfortable 45 points following five wins and a second place in the opening six races and importantly, has racked up an impressive 28 Podium Credits which will become significant when the end of season Showdown to decide the MCE British champion commences.
The 37-year-old Londoner won both races at the Fife track last year to take his winning tally to seven at the hillside circuit just north of Dunfermline and following his double at Snetterton a couple of weeks ago, he increased his total of MCE BSB wins to a record breaking 56.
Team-mate Stuart Easton arrives at his local track knowing the partisan fans will be cheering for the 30-year-old Hawick rider as he looks to bounce back after a disappointing Snetterton which saw him scrape just three points.
The reigning Motorpoint British Supersport champion holds seventh place in the standings and has yet to win on home soil but aims to put that record right aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki Ninja ZX-10R for the Penrith-based PBM team.
Shane Byrne: "It's very early days in the season and there's a long way to go so the plan at Knockhill is to just keep doing what we're doing. I have a really good feeling with the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki right now and last year we had two good wins at Knockhill so the aim is obviously to do the same again. But I know that's not going to be easy and I'm expecting a lot more pressure as it's a tight and twisty track but the aim is two more wins."
Stuart Easton: "I've finished second at Knockhill in every class in which I have raced but I have never been first and that is something that I am keen to put right this weekend. Racing there is always something that I look forward to as it is only a short trip from home; I get good support there and enjoy riding at Knockhill. I only get to race the track once a year and that has been the same all the way through my career so it is always very important for me to do well there. I'm only four points adrift of fifth place in the title race so after a disappointing round at Snetterton, I'll be looking to put a smile back on my side of the garage."
Paul Bird: "There is no pressure at all on either Shakey or Stuart from the team, they will do what they always do and go out and give it their best shot. Hopefully Shakey can keep those Podium Credits rolling in as that's the important thing right now and it's great that Scotland has a Superbike rider this year where I'm sure Stuart will want to put on a good show at his home round."
The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki MCE British Superbike Championship Team is running alongside the PBM MotoGP Team with riders Michael Laverty and Broc Parkes. Additionally, Paul Bird is running a full campaign in the REIS BTRDA Rally Series as well as selected International events in his Ford Focus WRC07. Both bike racing teams are sporting the colours of British Racing Green in deference to the team's proud British heritage.
