PBM Kawasaki's Shane Byrne has topped the timesheets in the second British Superbike test session at Brands Hatch this afternoon, dipping under the 46s barrier and getting to within half a second of Gregorio Lavilla's lap record which dates back to 2007.
Byrne's final lap of 45.954 was enough to topple Josh Brookes' Tyco Suzuki who, in turn, had taken the lead from reigning champion Tommy Hill after the Surrey man sorted some fuelling issues which slowed him the this morning's first session. Michael Laverty also jumped ahead of the Swan Yamaha man with his final lap
Stuart Easton's PBM Kawasaki gave up the ghost on the way into Druids halfway through the session, necessitating a red flag but the Hawick rider still managed to hold on to fifth place and is only three-tenths off the pace. Padgett's Honda man Ian Lowry is just fractions behind on a 46.256 with an equally wee Irishman in the shape of Alastair Seeley in seventh.
WFR Honda's James Westmoreland improved on his time from this morning to set eighth fastest, just ahead of Chris Walker and team-mate Alex Lowes, who lapped in 46.402. Jon Kirkham, on the second Samsung Honda, was 12th with veteran Michael Rutter 13th, Luke Quigley 14th and Noriyuki Haga rounding out the top 15.
Graeme Gowland, who was fastest this morning, did go out in the second session as his bike was too badly damaged from an earlier crash.
