Defending MCE Insurance British Superbike Champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne ended the opening day of testing in Almeria on route to hospital following a crash in the final session. Quattro Plant Kawasaki's Luke Mossey continued to head the timesheets ahead of tomorrow's final day.

Byrne crashed out in the final session of the day at the circuit's fast turn six and was left battered and bruised by the high-side. The four-time Champion was first assessed at the circuit medical centre and will travel to the local hospital to have further precautionary checks to a hand injury he sustained, as no x-ray facilities were available at the circuit.  

UPDATED (19:00): Byrne has undergone surgery this evening on his hand after further assessments at hospital.

Byrne and the PBM Kawasaki team will decide tomorrow morning if he will continue to test on the final day at Almeria.

Mossey had been building the pace throughout his second day on circuit to remain fastest on the timesheets, just ahead of fellow MCE BSB rookie Lee Jackson who was 0.014s adrift on the Buildbase BMW.

MCE British Superbike Championship, Test, Almeria, day two:

Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 1m37.3s
Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +0.014s
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.104s
Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +0.648s
Daniel Johnson (Morello Racing Kawasaki) +1.007s
Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +1.454s

Photo: Bonnie Lane