Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes is already under the lap record in the first session of MCE British Superbike testing at Snetterton today but was pushed hard by Jakub Smrz and James Ellison, who has found some pace overnight after electrical gremlins made his life difficult yesterday.
The Australian set a best lap of 1’47.697 with five minutes of the session remaining while Ellison, who finished sixth overall yesterday, bounced into second place with a 1’47.959 and then upped his pace to finish on a 1’47.745 but he was usurped by Smrz’s final lap of 1’47.721.
Reigning champion Shane Byrne was a tenth behind Ellison on a 1’47.848 with PBM Kawasaki team-mate Stuart Easton fifth on a 1’49.104, set on his last lap of the session as the chequered flag appeared. Buildbase BMW’s Lee Jackson had been in fifth before Easton’s lap shuffled him down to sixth place and a late charge by Chris Walker put him back to seventh.
Easton ended on a 1’49.104, just 0.02 quicker than Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Walker with Jackson a further 0.148s back. Danny Buchan, on the second Be Wiser bike, finished in eighth on a 1’49.437.
Hond Racing’s Jason O’Halloran was ninth with Howie Mainwaring completing th top ten, 1.846s off the pace. Luke Mossey upped his game from yesterday to set a 1’49.598 for 11th place, just ahead of Christian Iddon. Broc Parkes, who is using Milwauke Yamaha’s new fuel tank today, is in 13th place with Josh Waters and Taylor Mackenzie rounding out the top 15.
