JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison was the fastest rider out on a wet track, during the final MCE British Superbike free practice session in Assen.
The Showdown rider lapped a 1’49.872 and was the only racer to set a sub 1’50 time. Yesterday, Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon was the quickest during the second free practice outing in dry conditions. Today he was two tenths off the best lap of title fighter, Ellison, but his 1’50.090 meant that he was second on the timesheets.
Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper appeared unfazed by the mixed conditions and went P3 in the final practice, with a strong 1’50.472. Out of all the Showdown rider’s it was Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran who put down the most laps, eighteen in total and ended the morning sixth fastest.
The Australian was 0.3s faster than title challenger, JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam, with the pair ending FP3 sixth and seventh on the sheets respectively. But Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne was quicker than both rivals, and set a time that placed his Panigale fourth this morning after a 1’50.555.
Only a tenth off the multiple-champ was his young gun team-mate Glenn Irwin who rode a 1’50.637. Team WD-40’s Josh Hook and Smiths Racing’s Ryuichi Kiyonari both clocked solid times out on a wet track and the pair were well inside the top ten in eighth and ninth, with Tyco BMW’s, Michael Laverty lapping a pace that placed his S1000RR tenth on the timing-screens.
There was a red flag with 32 minutes remaining to the final free practice session, as there was track contamination at Haarbocht and De Strubben. This was due to the Bennetts Suzuki of Tommy Bridewell spilling fluid out on the circuit, which started from finishing line and extended all the way to turn three.
When the session did get back underway and the chequered flag appeared fellow Showdown rider’s, Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey were outside of the top fifteen times. The Fireblade Northerner ended FP3 in sixteenth, with new dad Mossey finishing the session in 21st, even after a total of fifteen laps out on the TT circuit.
