Danny Buchan edged Jake Dixon for the top spot in today’s second Bennetts British Superbike practice session to end Friday quickest with the fastest ever lap of Knockhill.
The Essex man laid down a 47.473s lap on his FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, 0.005s ahead of his mate Dixon on the RAF Regular & Reserves machine, as he led the order on a bright and sunny first day of action.
Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty opened the session with a mid-48 to top the times, but JG Speedfit Kawasaki man Leon Haslam was soon back in charge as he stuck in a 47.890 to go quickest less than five minutes in.
Buchan soon joined Haslam in the 47s with a 47.939, before Jake Dixon also dropped into the same bracket with a 47.999 to go third.
After a round of tinkering in the garage and with just over half the session remaining, Buildbase Suzuki’s Bradley Ray stuck in a fast lap that put him second, splitting Buchan and Haslam – just 0.017s off the lead.
Haslam’s charge ended moments later, however, when he had a spill at Duffus Dip, and Dixon soon pipped him for the top spot by a minuscule 0.002s.
But the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider was soon levered aside as Laverty went 0.025s quicker to take tentative afternoon bragging rights.
It didn’t last, though, as a big shuffle came in the final six minutes as Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot pushed Laverty back with a 47.701, before Laverty went straight back in front.
And just after Richard Cooper crept into the top five, Buchan shot from sixth to first with a 47.473s lap, nearly two tenths quicker than Laverty, before Dixon split the two to go second as he ended the session just 0.005s off the top spot.
Linfoot, Cooper and Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin finished just outside the top three with just over a tenth separating them.
Andrew Irwin went seventh quickest, just 0.015s behind his brother, while Ray, Haslan and Christian Iddon completed the top ten.
