MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship leader Shane 'Shakey' Byrne completes the front row of the grid for tomorrow's opening race at Oulton Park as the HM Plant Honda rider vows to do everything he can to return to the top step of the podium tomorrow.

Byrne had suffered a crash in the final free practice session this morning but it certainly didn't stop the former double champion in qualifying as he powered to fourth on the grid as he prepares to defend his title lead tomorrow from John Hopkins and Tommy Hill who qualified first and second respectively.

Byrne said:

"It feels good to be on the front row as it has been hard work today for the HM Plant Honda team. We had a crash this morning which was unfortunate and this afternoon we were still making some pretty big changes during qualifying; we were changing a shock absorber between sessions so it feels like being on pole to be on the front row.

"Tomorrow is going to be really close no doubt about that; I think we will have to close our eyes into the first turn and hope we are leading coming out of it! The HM Plant Honda team have worked hard today and we had the pace to win at the last round two weeks' ago so there is no reason why we can't be in the same position tomorrow. We know the other guys are going to be fast but we just need to stick with them and see what we can do about getting the HM Plant Honda back on the top step of the podium again."