Four Times Champ Shakey Teams Up With Dixon In Double Title Bid
The most successful rider in British Superbike Championship history, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne has teamed up with one of Britain’s brightest prospects Jake Dixon, in a bid to land an audacious double title in 2015.
37-year-old Byrne, originally from London but now living in Kent, clinched his fourth MCE British Superbike crown at Brands Hatch in October with his 61st career win to add to his 2003, 2008 and 2012 titles.
Now, as well as going for an unprecedented fifth title in 2015 with the same Paul Bird Motorsport team, Byrne has taken on the role of rider-manager for the British Supersport Championship bid of 18-year-old Jake Dixon as well.
Dixon, from Folkestone, is hailed as a future champion and is without doubt one of this country’s hottest talents. The highly-rated teenager started club racing back in 2010 before finishing fourth in the 2012 Metzeler Superstock 600 Championship. He’s spent the past two seasons in the Motorpoint British Supersport Championship whereby he finished eighth in this year’s series.
This year he’s teamed up with the title-winning Smiths Racing Team aboard a factory-backed Triumph Daytona 675R and with Byrne’s help, he hopes to retain the title for the Gloucester-based team.
Shakey explained: “For the past few months Jake and I have been working together, he’s been training with me and we have seen vast improvements. At first he was being sick and couldn’t hack it but I’ve seen some real determination in him and he wants to win so badly. So as well as helping him with training and fitness, I’ve now agreed to take him under my wing from a full managerial point of view by taking care of his deals as well as his general approach both on and off the bike and at and away from the race tracks. I plan to get the very best out of him so everything I do, he will do. I’ll work him so hard he’ll wish he wasn’t born some days! But it’s an approach that has been successful for me over the years and hopefully, we can both celebrate with a championship each at the end of the season.”
Jake said: “It’s an absolute honour to have someone like Shakey offer to help me in my quest for success so I don’t plan on letting him down. He’s the complete package and I’ve often asked his advice in the past whereby he’s been very helpful. So when he offered to train me and help me, I jumped at the chance and already I’m finding a difference. I have a brilliant bike and a proven championship winning team behind me for 2015 thanks to Shakey so I need to be in the best shape both mentally and physically. I’m determined to make the most of this opportunity and whilst it’s going to be tough at times, with a four-time BSB champion in your corner, it’s all the motivation I need.”
The opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and Motorpoint British Supersport Championship takes place at Donington Park on 4/6th April 2015 and for further details, please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Follow Shakey at www.shakey.com and @67shakey and Jake at www.facebook.com/JakeDixonRacing and @DixonJake.