Shane Byrne faces a race against time to be able to resume his MCE British Superbike title campaign after sustaining a shoulder injury in a heavy tumble during free practice at Cadwell Park which ruled him out today's races.

Byrne was thrown from his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki going through Hall Bends and into the Hairpin on Saturday – the two-time title winner hit the barriers with his left side, but then fell awkwardly on his right side causing what was described as “complex ligament damage” to the right shoulder.

Initially air-lifted to hospital in Hull for assessment, Byrne returned to the circuit before heading north to Manchester for an appointment on Sunday afternoon with a specialist Lennard Funck arranged by the BSB medical team.

Byrne talked about his meeting: “I had overslept at the circuit, because of the pain-killers I was taking, but dashed to the hospital with my mate driving. Mr Funck asked my situation and I said we’ve three weeks to get it fixed. He looked at it and said we need to operate – I said when, and he said I can do it this afternoon. I had not eaten or had a drink having woken up late and it was done straightaway.

“Basically I had snapped off the ligaments and that was allowing the collarbone to move on top of the shoulder blade – he did what he called a double fix, screwing some ligament in place with something, and whacking in a bit of super-glue and it should be perfectly strong.

“I can do without racing at Donington Park but need to get as fit as I can – Assen is the goal but we have to play it by ear. I’d like to get in a private test the week before Assen to see how I am going,” added Byrne, who was at the circuit to watch the races, though he admitted: “I’m feeling a bit sore.”