Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki rider is expected to miss four weeks

IRVINE, Calif. (November 17, 2003) -- Team Chevy Trucks Kawasaki's newest member, Michael Byrne, was recently injured at the team's test facility in Corona, Calif., sustaining an injury to his left shoulder. The 24-year-old Australian, who resides in Lake Elsinore, Calif., underwent successful surgery in San Diego on Friday, November 14, by Dr. Paul Murphy, the same surgeon who successfully repaired teammate James Stewart collarbone last season.

Byrne's injured shoulder was in far better condition than originally diagnosed, leading to a shorter rehabilitation, which is expected to keep Byrne off his motorcycle for four weeks. The surgery repaired torn cartilage in his left shoulder and did not affect his rotator cuff as initially diagnosed. He will begin rehabilitation immediately and can continue his cardio training on a stationary bike.

Byrne returns to Kawasaki for the 2004 racing season after a two-year hiatus where he will compete aboard a factory-backed Kawasaki KX250 in the 16-race THQ AMA U.S. Supercross Series and 12-race Chevy Trucks AMA U.S. Motocross Championships. He rode an abbreviated Supercross season aboard a Kawasaki in 2001 for Jeff Emig's race team and finished a very-respectable ninth place in the final 250 standings.