Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne went 0.08 seconds under lap record pace to set the fastest time of the Cadwell Park MCE British Superbike race weekend so far.
On board the Panigale, the five-time champion put down a 1’26.516, but in the final moments of the second free practice session at the Lincolnshire track he was chased hard by RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon.
The ZX-10RR racer was only 0.03s slower than his fellow Kent man, and he was another who went under the lap record clocked by Leon Haslam last year of a 1’26.590. Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman was quickest in the opening free practice and he looked on course to take the fastest rider accolade once again, but he toppled down to third on the timing-screens when the chequered flags appeared.
Byrne was the first rider today to lap within the 1’26s on the 30 minute mark in FP2, with a 1’26.990. Local rider, Hickman bettered Byrne’s time with six minutes left to the final practice session of the day and lapped a 1’26.714. But he was soon overtaken by Byrne and then Dixon on the sheets.
Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon was never outside the top five times during the session and kept improving. He ended the afternoon with a 1’27.099, and was so close to lapping a sub 1’27 time.
Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was one of the riders who made the biggest improvements from the first session to the second. The former double race winner at the circuit went nearly one and a half seconds faster and was fifth quickest in FP2, compared to P13 in FP1. The Bringelly rider finished the session ahead of McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison and JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam.
McAMS Yamaha’s Michael Laverty was another who bettered his time by over one second, and was as high as third on the timing-screens before he was pushed back down to eighth. Hopkins, O’Halloran, Jackson, Linfoot, Bridewell, Irwin and Jessopp were all inside the top 15 times.
There were some racers missing from the proceedings today. Most notably was showdown contender, Luke Mossey. The JG Speedfit Kawasaki racer is recovering from fractured vertebrae after a crash during the last round at Thruxton.
Another rider who was injured at the Hampshire circuit was FS-3 Racing’s Billy McConnell. The Aussie is nursing a dislocated hip from his race one crash two weeks ago.
