Byrne had his best-ever Superbike season in 2003

The British Superbike champion has joined Aprilia and will ride alongside Northern Ireland's Jeremy McWilliams.

"It's going to be a tough year for me - there are a lot of tracks that I have not ridden on before," he said.

"I have experience of six of the 13 but hopefully, with more testing time, I will be able to find my way around them a little better."

Byrne admits he was lost for words when he met some of his new opponents for the first time in Valencia recently.

Among those at the Spanish circuit for testing were MotoGP title holder Valentino Rossi, Max Biaggi, Carlos Checa and Sete Gibernau.

It's a fantastic opportunity - one I couldn't have possibly turned down Shane Byrne

Byrne said: "I felt like a little kid again, I went all shy and didn't know what to say. I was stood in a room with my idols. It still all feels very strange.

"The test was brilliant but I still can't get over how unbelievably fast the bike is."

Byrne added he found it hard to leave the MonsterMob Ducati team but could not pass up the chance to test himself against the world's best riders.

"It's a fantastic opportunity for me, and one I couldn't have possibly turned down.

"I know I have so much to learn but I'm in amongst the best riders there are, so, hopefully, I should be able to pick up some pretty useful tips."