Superbike champion Shane Byrne wins Snetterton crash case

Shane Byrne, a six-time British Superbike Championship winner, collided with a barrier after coming off his bike at the Norfolk circuit in May 2018.

The crash left him with several fractures and internal injuries.

Shane Byrne, left, was taken to hospital after crashing at Snetterton (Image: Barry Clay)

The 47-year-old sued three bodies – including track owners Motorsport Vision - for damages, claiming that a safety barrier was inadequate and was responsible for his injuries.

READ MORE: Superbike champion Shane Byrne suing over Snetterton crash

The organisations, which also included Motorsport Vision Racing, which runs the championship, and sport governing body Motorcycle Circuit Racing Control Board, argued the rider was at fault and that the type of barrier was sufficient.

In a judgment on Friday, Judge Peter Blair KC said the bodies were liable for Mr Byrne’s injuries, which were “materially caused” by the collision with the barrier.

The amount of damages to be paid to Mr Byrne will be determined at a later date.

The crash happened during testing at Snetterton for the fourth round of the 2018 British Superbike Championship (Image: Newsquest)

A hearing in May had heard the rider, known as Shakey, crashed during a test day for the championship at turn three of the three-mile Snetterton circuit, known as Palmer Corner, while he was on his second lap.

Barrister Kiril Waite, representing the rider, said he had jumped from the bike, which came off the track at around 60mph hitting a safety barrier consisting of tyres bolted together which offered the minimum level of protection required.

Mr Waite told the court that a more advanced Type A air-filled barrier which acts as a shock absorber should have been in place at the corner as it was elsewhere on the track, claiming that “the ball was dropped”.

The court heard this type of barrier was installed at the corner soon after the crash.

Shane Byrne crashed at turn three of the three-mile Snetterton circuit, known as Palmer Corner (Image: Mike Page)

READ MORE: Driver harness became undone before fatal Snetterton crash

Judge Blair said the rider coming off his bike was “a foreseeable type of racing incident” and that it was “negligent” not to have type A barriers on the corner of the crash.

He said the injuries were “not caused by rider error”.

He added: “On a balance of probabilities, I have concluded that he did not sustain any serious injuries as a result of jumping clear of his motorcycle and tumbling towards the barrier.

“The impact with the barrier, however, materially caused the infliction of his injuries.”