Shane Byrne needs to improve his form at the Croft Circuit in North Yorkshire on Sunday to maintain his bid to land a third MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

The HM Plant Honda rider holds the points lead in the title race after the first two rounds and will be looking to extend his advantage in Sunday’s two races.

But while Byrne has been consistent over the first four races at Brands Hatch and Oulton Park, he knows his record at Croft could be better.

Third and fourth places at Oulton left Byrne 11 points ahead of the MSS Colchester Kawasaki of Stuart Easton who leads Byrne’s team-mate and defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari by a single point.

Byrne and Kiyonari have both taken part in machine testing at Darley Moor to help solve the problems which hindered them at Oulton and Byrne is confident of good results at Croft despite painful memories of his last visit.

Byrne said: “We made a bit of a breakthrough. The team is working very hard and now it is down to us to push as hard as we can.”

Byrne suffered a heavy fall at Croft the last time he raced at the circuit, but he still did enough to go on to win his second British title in 2008.

He admitted: “I’ve not had the best of results at Croft. I don’t dislike the place though it is not my favourite.

“The title is run over 12 rounds, so it is a case of doing the best job possible in each.”

Kiyonari won two races at Croft in 2007 but on his last visit could only manage 11th and fourth places.

He said: “For me Croft has been a difficult track, although I have won there.

“It is very bumpy so the setting is going to be critical to be able to win. I want to be on the podium and winning again.”