SHANE BYRNE is eyeing a points finish in this weekend’s Catalunyan MotoGP after taking a big step forward in the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello on Sunday.

A slow start saw Byrne, who has a house in Minster, fall back after qualifying in 18th place on the grid.

But two retirements and improved pace from his Proton KR saw him pass Robby Rolfo with two laps to go to finish in 16th place, just two seconds adrift of Kenny Roberts jnr on the factory Suzuki.

Byrne now has two 16th-place finishes to his name this season, and is confident of breaking into the top 15 and scoring world championship points.

He told his official website: "It was a long, tough old race and while I’m chuffed to bits with the progress we made and the fact that we started and finished a race with everyone else, at the same time I’m a bit gutted not to score a point or two.

"I’ve no time for negativity though so I’m looking at the plusses of the weekend and now already looking forward to Barcelona."