One of the UK’s most successful motorbike riders is suing three sporting bodies after sustaining “catastrophic” injuries in a crash at Snetterton.
Shane Byrne, a six-time British Superbike Championship winner, collided with a barrier after coming off his bike at the Norfolk circuit in 2018, leaving him with several fractures and internal injuries.
The 47-year-old is now taking legal action against three bodies – including track owners Motorsport Vision - for damages, claiming that a safety barrier was insufficient.
The three groups, which also includes Motorsport Vision Racing, which runs the championship, and governing body the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board, deny the allegations, telling a trial in London that Mr Byrne was at fault for the accident.
READ MORE: Shane Byrne taken to Norwich hospital after crashing during Snetterton testing
Mr Byrne, known as Shakey, is the most successful rider in British Superbike Championship history with 85 race wins but has been unable to compete since the crash.
The incident occurred on a test day for the championship at turn three of the three-mile Snetterton circuit, known as Palmer Corner, while Mr Byrne was on his second lap.
Barrister Kiril Waite, representing the rider, said that after coming off the track at around 60mph, the bike went across a grass run-off area and both the vehicle and Mr Byrne hit a safety barrier, sustaining the “catastrophic” injuries as a result.
The “Type D” safety barrier which the rider hit consisted of tyres bolted together and was the minimum level of protection available.
Mr Waite told the court that a “Type A” device, an air-filled barrier which acts as a shock absorber, was “the appropriate form of protection” and should have been in place at the corner.
READ MORE: Driver harness became undone before fatal Snetterton crash
Lawyers for the sporting bodies told the court that there were no faults with the bike or track and Mr Byrne was to blame for the accident.
In written submissions, their barrister, Malcolm Duthie, said: “But even if that is incorrect, the circumstances of his accident were unusual and the manner of his riding, even if regarded as an error of judgement and not contributorily negligent, was the substantial and real cause for why he came into contact with the barrier at all.”
The trial continues.
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