Reigning MCE British Superbike Champion Shane Byrne faces a race against time to be fit for the season opener at Donington Park in a month after breaking his hand in a crash at Almeria yesterday.

Byrne was spat over the highside of his PBM Kawasaki and broke his hand. After an initial check at the circuit medical centre, he was transferred to hospital for X-rays where he underwent surgery last night to fix the break with screws and plates. He will fly back to the UK in order to start the healing process in a hyperbaric chamber.

“‘Ive broken my left hand which resulted in an operation last night to fix it. The long and the short of it is one of my knuckles disappeared down into my hand and broke it. The good news is though I was operated on and with some screws and plates, it's all been put back together so I’m already on the mend,” said Byrne.

“The doctor has said I need a month to heal which takes me exactly to the first round but I’m planning on heading back to the UK tomorrow now to jump in a hyperbaric chamber so I’m hoping that'll increase healing time considerably.

“I’ve supposedly got to keep this cast on for two to three weeks but I’ll see what my guy in the UK says and do absolutely everything I possibly can to be ready for the Donington Park test in three weeks.”