On the picture Shane Byrne in Althea Racing outfit and in the garage during the Portimao SBK test.
Thanks to our friends from Eybis.com for the picture.

source: worldsbk

source: worldsbk

source: FIM

Carlos Checa :”In few days we’ll leave for Portimao and I will be able to start to work with my new technicians in order to start the Superbike world championship in the best possible way. My team worked very hard to prepare the bikes and I’ll do my best starting from the first test session in Portimao because I want to start this 2010 season in the right way”

Shane Byrne :”I’m really very happy to be part of this team. Today I saw my new Ducati bike for the first time and I’m eager to ride it in Portimao. Now I know all the components of the team and I’m sure it will be exciting work in such a professional squad, especially with Carlos Checa alongside. He’s got a lot of experience and I’m sure he’ll be a great teammate. This year I want to firmly stay in the first positions in every race”.

The entire team will fly to Portimao for three days of testing (22nd, 23rd and 24th of January), followed directly by two more days of testing at Valencia (27th and 28th of January).

source: worldsbk

photo DucatiCorseFriends

“First of all I want to work with my new team. I’ve already worked with a few of the guys before and it’ll be good to see some familiar faces. It’ll also be good to work in such a professional squad, especially with Carlos Checa alongside. He’s got a lot of experience and I’m sure he’ll be a great team-mate. I was on a Ducati 1098 last year and we’ll start off by working with the set-up I used in the last race, and then move on and try a few new things”.

via: WorldSBK

The Althea Ducati team will not be present during the SBK test in Valencia on the 9th and 10th December. Riders Carlos Checa and Shane Byrne will still wait to step on the Ducati sadle. The new Ducati Team is not yet readdy with preparing the bikes.
Later more news!

Shane Byrne: “I’m extremely happy to say that I will join the Althea Ducati racing team for the 2010 WSB championship. Genesio Bevilacqua has been fantastic and from my talks with him so far I understand he is a very serious, enthusiastic and ambitious person. He has put together a fantastic package that should enable both Carlos and I the opportunity to fight at a very high level, so I look forward to this new adventure. Remaining on a Ducati motorcycle was very important to me. I think in Team Althea Ducati I’ve found the perfect place, a good bike, a very strong and experienced team mate and an extremely motivated team; I can’t wait to get started !”

source: Worldsbk

Shakey barely missed the podium twice today as he ended the season with two fourth places and engaged in a duel which pretty much decided the championship’s outcome.
Today’s results enabled him to take eighth place in the standings from Tom Sykes. It was a prestigious result after only a season in World Superbikes.

Byrne started battling for the podium from the first laps in race 1 until the end. He first got in a duel with Rea and then with Biaggi but finished just 4 tenths of a second off the podium.
In race 2, he put in a great performance as he got a great start and took the lead for which he battled with Rea for three quarters of the race. He gave it his all but had to up the pace due to worn tyres and finished fourth yet again after being overtaken by Fabrizio and, in the end, by Haga who was trying to win the title.

SHANE BYRNE (Ducati 1098R, 4th, 4th): “I gave it my all in both races and I would’ve really enjoyed finishing on the podium but it was honestly impossible for me to do better than this. The team did a great job the entire weekend, the bike peformed very well and so I was able to compete with the factory riders for the top positions.
I’ d like to thank all the members of the team who worked really hard this season so I could finish eighth in the riders’ standings”.

MARCO BORCIANI (team manager): “Shakey was fantastic today, he proved his talent. I hope I’ll be able to work alongside him next season as well. He is a great rider and a great teammate. I’d also like to thank all the team’s collaborators. We ended well a very positive season during which we established ourselves as one of the best private teams”.

Shane Byrne may be the outsider in the WSBK finale taking place tomorrow but the British rider set the second fastest time at the end of Superpole and will start from the front row. He will try to score his second podium result of the season, after the one in race 1 at Misano. Tomorrow’s two races will be a battle for the title between Haga and Spies. Shakey might have a say, although it will be a very hard-fought race.

SHANE BYRNE | Ducati 1098R | 2nd in 1′42.996: “I was never this close to crash as I was today. I gave 110%, I rode to the limit and I set a very good time. I’m confident for tomorrow, it’s going to be a battle for the title and I’ll try to give it my all. I’ll have to get a good start and be constantly focused because many riders are going very fast and it’s definitely not going to be an easy one. I just hope to end the season with a great result”.