The legend of British Superbike, Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, is seeking compensation in excess of 1 million euros following an accident that ended his career at the Snetterton circuit in 2018.
The six-time British Superbike champion suffered serious spinal injuries after colliding with the safety barriers during a testing session. Byrne has filed a lawsuit against Motorsport Vision Racing, the circuit owner, and the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Board of Control, claiming that better protection should have been used in the high-speed section where the accident occurred.
Byrne’s legal team argues that air fences should have been installed to prevent such injuries. It is known that air barriers provide better protection in high-speed accidents than traditional tire barriers. The absence of these safety measures, they argue, directly contributed to the severity of Byrne’s injuries. They claim that the organizers did not take necessary precautions to ensure the safety of the riders, especially in high-risk sections of the track.
The defendants, Motorsport Vision Racing and the Motorcycle Circuit Racing Board of Control, argue that the accident was unforeseeable and that the injuries were mainly due to the accident itself and not the barriers. They argue that the existing protection measures met the required standards and that such an incident could not have been predicted. Their defense is based on the assertion that even with air barriers, the outcome may not have been significantly different, given the nature of the accident.
Judge Bruce Blair will decide the case, which could set a precedent for how security measures are assessed and implemented in motor sports events. The legal battle highlights the ongoing debate about the responsibilities of race organizers in protecting drivers and the adequacy of current safety standards.
Byrne’s case has attracted significant attention in the motor sports community, emphasizing the risks drivers face and the importance of continuously improving safety protocols. Fans and fellow drivers have expressed their support for Byrne, emphasizing the need for stricter safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Statements:
Shane Byrne: ‘My accident could have been mitigated with better safety measures. The lack of adequate protection in a high-speed section is unacceptable’.
Defense: ‘The type of accident was not reasonably foreseeable and the main cause of the injuries was the accident itself, not the barriers’.
This legal battle highlights the ongoing debate about safety measures in motor sports and the responsibilities of organizers in protecting drivers.
