Shane Byrne on the Moto GP bike.

Shane Byrne helps out with Moto GP testing in Catalunya.

Double British Superbike Champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has been keeping busy in his time off from the series by taking the Aprilia Moto GP CRT machine out for a spin this week.

Byrne, from Sheppey, teamed up with James Ellison and the PBM UK team at the Catalunya track near Barcelona in Spain to help out with testing.

The 35-year-old, who is currently third in the BSB standings, joined Paul Bird’s team to assist with their testing programme ahead of their home round when the British Grand Prix visits Silverstone next weekend.

Ellison and the PBM UK team will line up on the grid in the MotoGP class while the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki BSB team will feature in the new Silverstone 200 support race while Byrne and his team mate Stuart Easton battle it out for the inaugural victory.

Speaking at the end of testing, Byrne said: “I wasn’t sure what to expect from the test as I only had a couple of runs out on the bike and the aim was just to give some feedback to help James and the team. I was expecting the bike to be a bit more angry, but it was the opposite and although there are still areas that the team are currently working on I felt comfortable which just shows how hard the boys have been working already.”

Byrne is among the frontrunners for the BSB title behind Kent rival Tommy Hill who’s is second and Josh Brookes who’s first.

There is a two week break until the next round of the championship at Scotland’s Knockhill circuit on June 22-24.