Shane Byrne. Picture by Jon Jessop Photography.

BSB star Shane Byrne feeling a bit more relaxed after last year’s heartache.

WINNING is everything for British Superbike star Shane Byrne, but the Sheppey rider has admitted he is a little bit more relaxed about not picking up maximum points from each round this season.

Last year Byrne looked good for the title with a 60 point lead, only to end up finishing in third place.

It has given the 35-year-old a new perspective on things this term, as although he is disappointed not to win every race, he knows as long as he is picking up points he will be among the title contenders come the end of the season.

“We found out the hard way last year,” he said. “It doesn’t matter if you lead every single race, it’s the showdown rides that matter.

“I want to go out and win every single race, however, I’m a little bit more relaxed now, if I have to take a second or third, it’s not the worst case scenario.

“I had a 60 or 70 point lead last year and ended up losing the championship.”

He is currently third in the overall standings on 108 points, with Tommy Hill (123) and Josh Brookes (124) ahead of him.

He feels that after a ‘bizarre’ start where no rider has dominated it will settle down to a four way battle between himself, Hill, Brookes, and Michael Laverty who is fourth with 81 points from the first four rounds.

“I haven’t had a particularly strong start to the year, but neither has anybody else,” said the Kawasaki rider.

“It’s bizarre the way it’s started, this time last year I had four or five wins. I think everybody that’s going to win a race has now won, the only exception maybe would be my team mate Stuart Easton - I might be totally wrong.”

He is now off to Spain for some time out, as well as doing some testing work for Kawasaki’s Moto GP team in Catalunya while he is there.

He will also be making an appearance in the support races at the British Moto GP Grand Prix at Silverstone before the next round of the BSB at Knockhill in Scotland on June 20-22.