Sideshifts would be quite easy, like you say its a matter of timing. A bigger problem is adding the sideways force to the forward speed (as you are mixing vectors). I'm only a begginer at this stuff so it makes my head hurt a little!

Actually, this leads me onto my question to Zero- how have you managed to get your AI ships to bank into curves? At present I have a basic node seeking method that self rights, but I'm finding it very difficult to mix banking into this without it affecting the rest.