PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne was under lap record pace during the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at Oulton Park this morning. The quadruple-champ set a 1’35.379 on his nineteenth lap going one tenth under the record which was set by Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes last year.
Tyco BMW’s Tommy Bridewell was up the sharp end for most of the outing and placed his S1000RR second on the timing screens, with a 1’35.730, going two tenths slower than the Kawasaki of Byrne. Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari rounded up the top three after his best lap – a 1’35.751.
Initially it was Byrne who set the pace during the opening free practice session with a 1’35.657 rotation on the thirty minute mark, with his team-mate Stuart Easton hot on his tail. But the wee Scotsman had a technical problem at Brittens and had to settle for fourth quickest, with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison completing the top five.
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran was eight tenths off a lap in the 1’35’s but did out pace Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes and RAF Reserves BMW’s Peter Hickman. Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan and Team WD-40s Jack Kennedy finished ninth and tenth on the sheets respectively.
