Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne was only 0.06s off his own out-right lap record, during the final MCE British Superbike free practice session at Brands Hatch.
The reigning champion lapped a 1’24.673 and soared to the top of the timesheets. He did go under the race lap record by two tenths of a second and pipped McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison in the session.
The Riders Cup contender was so close to putting down a sub 1’25 lap, but Byrne was the only racer to reach the dizzy heights of the 1’24’s. Ellison did a strong 1’25.067 time followed by the resurgent John Hopkins on the Moto Rapido Ducati.
The American star clocked a 1’25.082, followed by showdown rider, Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes. The title challenger is looking for his second BSB championship win and was a tenth off the best time of Hopkins, with Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon completing the top five.
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran went P6, followed by fellow top six rider, Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman. Both of them lapped a 1’25.3 time, with the Australian going a minuscule 0.01s quicker than the road racer. Ray, Laverty and Guintoli rounded up the top ten.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam currently leads the series and he spent most of the session doing race runs on the softer option Pirelli tyres. He ended the morning in 11th on the sheets with a 1’25.765. RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon made it out on track after an earlier FP2 crash.
His team had to rebuild his ZX-10RR last night and they did it in time for the final timed session. Dixon felt a bit sore yesterday but still made it out on to his local circuit and finished 12th this morning with a 1’25.871, just ahead of Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot.
