Moto Rapido Ducati’s John Hopkins left it until his penultimate lap to propel his Panigale to the very top of the MCE British Superbike timesheets, in the second free practice session at Oulton Park this afternoon.
The American was just inside the top ten times but a 1’365.092 was good enough to dethrone Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes, just as the chequered flag appeared, with Ducati man only 0.08s off lap record pace. Bringelly rider, Brookes dominated the session, until Hopkins put down a hot lap to cement his place firmly at the top of the sheets.
Brookes was only 0.054 seconds off the pace of the former MotoGP rider, with PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne third quickest this afternoon. The reigning champ was only a tenth shy off Brookes’ best lap, and was still strong enough to bag P3.
Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan was another rider to lap in the low 1’35’s and was fourth fastest at the Cheshire track. Bennetts Suzuki’s Christian Iddon improved massively from FP1, with the former World Superbike racer lapping a 1’35. 699, to go fifth fastest followed by Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey.
Making his comeback from injury is PBM Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton. The Scot, who’s still in Showdown contention has been out of action after breaking his left ankle and right tibia in a crash at Brands. He bravely finished the second practice outing in thirteenth.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison also made his return today. He was missing from Cadwell as he was recovering from a broken wrist that he sustained at Thruxton. He was declared fit to take part in the free practice sessions and the title challenger finished the afternoon in twelfth.
There are thirteen riders that are in with a shout of fighting for positions in the top six, including Tyco BMW garage buddies, Michael Laverty and Tommy Bridewell. Laverty failed to make it inside the top ten this morning, but something clicked for the Wales-based rider and that pulled him to seventh with Kennedy, Hickman and Cooper rounding off the top ten. Bridewell ended FP2 in eleventh on the sheets.
In the opening free practice session Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari had a blown head-gasket but his team made the necessary changes for him to go out in FP2 and in the end went eighteenth fastest.
World Endurance rider Julien Da Costa finished the afternoon 25th. The Frenchman is riding in the place of the crocked Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran, who’s recuperating after breaking his leg at Thruxton. Aussie, Jed Metcher is the latest rider to jump onboard the Gearlink Kawasaki bike, and he ended the session in 30th.
