If you grew up following two-wheeled racing around the same time I did, Shane 'Shakey' Byrne is a name familiar to you for so many reasons—some great, and some that required a public apology.
Career highlights include snagging rides with Aprilia, Proton KTM, and Camel Honda in MotoGP, along with being the most successful rider in the history of the Bennets British Superbike Championship (BSB), amassing six titles and 85 race wins.
Unfortunately, while testing for what would be Byrne's final year in BSB on May 17th, 2018, at Snetterton Racetrack, he was forced to jump off his Ducati Panigale 1299 at around 60 mph. Byrne continued traveling over a grassy area before hitting a barrier protected by a tire wall, along with his bike, at between 15-25 mph. Even at such relatively low speeds, the injuries were catastrophic.
Byrne, who was the reigning BSB champion, sustained two bruised lungs and fractures to all of his ribs, four vertebrae, collarbone, and neck in two places. The now 47-year-old hasn't raced since the accident.
