Byrne claimed his first point of the season in California

Byrne, one of only two British riders in the championship, earned his first point of a frustrating season at the most recent race in California.

"My team works so much harder than some of the top teams because we're so far off them that we have to," he said.

"The rewards they get don't really show the amount of hard work put in."

Last season was Byrne's first in MotoGP, riding for Aprilia, but injuries and technical problems restricted his opportunities.

With Aprilia not competing this year, some people wondered if he might drop down a class, but he remained in MotoGP with KTM.

If you had a rider who just wobbled about and couldn't care less, the team wouldn't put in as much effort as they do Shane Byrne

As his results bear out, his fortunes have not really improved this season.

But Byrne insists he is taking everything he can from the experience, and is always keen to better himself as a rider.

"I think I've done what I've always done every other week that I've been racing, in whatever class," he says.

"I've tried to do the best I can and to learn as many things as I can and hope to reap my reward.

"I'm trying to build things up in my time as a MotoGP rider, and for as long as I'm not standing still, I'll stay in MotoGP."

MotoGP continues to be as popular as ever, with another bumper crowd predicted at Donington this weekend.

But it is 24 years since the last British winner of a top-class Grand Prix - Barry Sheene in Sweden in 1981 - and Byrne admits the situation is not getting any easier for British riders.

"No British rider has the backing to get on a decent bike, so they're not going to get decent results, so the public in general aren't too interested, and because of that no-one wants to invest," he says.