Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty pulled out all the stops in the MCE British Superbike second free practice session at Knockhill to top the timesheets.
Laverty produced a stunner with less than ten minutes remaining in Scotland to unofficially break the lap record, taking his BMW into top spot on a 48.009.
Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne and JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider Leon Haslam chased Laverty’s time down valiantly in the final few minutes but, although both also went under the lap record, it was to no avail.
The second session at Knockhill had looked set to be a tricky affair following some lunchtime rain, but by the time the bikes had taken to the track conditions were good again.
That allowed JG Speedfit’s Peter Hickman to start well, taking top early on before Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey and then Laverty bumped him down the leaderboard.
An excellent 48.3 from Hickman put his Kawasaki back in front, as Byrne blasted his way into second with Haslam, Laverty and EpayMe Yamaha’s John Hopkins – sitting fifth – all working hard to depose Hickman.
Mossey wasn’t finished on the Quattro Plant bike either, as the morning’s fastest rider made his way into third just before a small off for Honda’s Jenny Tinmouth caused a few problems.
Next time round Mossey looked as if he might make it a double in practice, taking his Kawasaki top but a raft of machines were exiting the pits ready for one final shot.
With times getting quicker, and plenty of rubber down despite the earlier rain showers, it was Laverty first to challenge as he went second and on his next lap he was imperious.
Blasting round the Fife circuit the Ulsterman put the Tyco BMW top with an incredible lap, and Haslam followed him into second with Byrne next.
While both Laverty and Haslam – who completed a long stint of 39 laps – made little attempt to better their efforts in the following lap, Byrne did as he swapped places with the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider with an impressive 48.045.
Mossey finished the day in fourth, just ahead of Hopkins, Honda’s Dan Linfoot and Hickman. The top ten was rounded out by the Tyco BMW of Christian Iddon, Honda’s Jason O’Halloran and Richard Cooper on the Buildbase BMW.
