Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty was under lap record pace by nearly one second, and went faster than fellow Showdown rivals, Brookes, Ellison and Byrne in the second MCE British Superbike free practice session at Silverstone.
The Nothern Irishman went 0.9s under Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes’ lap record at the circuit, and was just one tenth shy of lapping one second under the record-breaking pace.
Current series leader, Brookes was 0.1s slower than Laverty, and was leading the charge before the S1000RR went even quicker. But the duo were not the only racer’s to lap inside the 1’05’s; Showdown riders JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison and PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne both set respectable times to place them P3 and P5 on the sheets.
Moto Rapido Ducati’s John Hopkins kept up his solid good form and was sandwiched in-between Ellison and Byrne on the timing-screens just as the chequered flag came out. But it was Brookes who put down more laps in the 2'06's than any other rider during the session.
Title fighter, Dan Linfoot, onboard his Honda Racing Fireblade finished FP2 in ninth, with Bennetts Suzuki’s Christian Iddon completing the top ten. Showdown racer, Tyco BMW’s Tommy Bridewell could not emulate his team-mate’s lap times and was not up the sharp end during the session, and when the flags appeared was P15.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Luke Stapleford, ended the second session in 20th overall. Young gun Danny Buchan is substituting for the crocked Stuart Easton on the PBM Kawasaki machine and finished in eighth on the timing-screens.
The session was red-flagged with 24 minutes on the clock after Team WD-40’s Jack Kennedy crashed at Club. He was taken to the medical centre for further assessment.
