Editorial Notes:
American James Rispoli, riding his Everquip Racing Yamaha YZF-R6, was fifth-fastest in British Supersport FP2 with a time of 1:52.895. Jack Kennedy set the fastest time in the session, a 1:51.629, on an Integro Yamaha YZF-R6.
The British MotoStar class, in which American Brandon Paasch competes on his Microlise Cresswell Racing Mahindra, is not part of the program this weekend at Snetterton.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Snetterton Circuit, England
June 15, 2018
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Leon Haslam, UK (Kawasaki), 1:47.674
2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), 1:47.752
3. Glenn Irwin, UK (Ducati), 1:47.785
4. Jake Dixon, UK (Kawasaki), 1:47.800
5. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), 1:47.994
6. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.292
7. Andrew Irwin, UK (Ducati), 1:48.374
8. James Ellison, UK (Yamaha), 1:48.401
9. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), 1:48.452
10. Tarran Mackenzie, UK (Yamaha), 1:48.483
11. Bradley Ray, UK (Suzuki), 1:48.667
12. Richard Cooper, UK (Suzuki), 1:48.675
13. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), 1:48.691
14. Gino Rea, UK (Suzuki), 1:48.922
15. Jason O’Halloran, UK (Honda), 1:48.927
16. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), 1:49.049
17. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW), 1:49.133
18. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Suzuki), 1:49.395
19. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Ducati), 1:49.619
20. Mason Law, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.698
21. Kyle Ryde, UK (Yamaha), 1:50.553
22. Sylvain Barrier, France (BMW), 1:51.567
23. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yamaha), 1:51.656
24. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Kawasaki), 1:52.800
25. Carl Phillips, UK (Kawasaki), 1:52.859
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Haslam holds off Brookes as top 11 covered by 0.9s at Snetterton
Leon Haslam held off a hard-charging Josh Brookes to top the opening day at Snetterton as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship returned to the track with an incredibly close second free practice session that saw the top 11 riders covered by just 0.993s!
The session got underway in warmer conditions than earlier in the day and instantly Glenn Irwin was ready to build on setting the pace in free practice one, but Haslam was on a charge and moved ahead to put JG Speedfit Kawasaki at the top of the times.
Haslam was under fire though and the championship leader dropped to fifth place in the final ten minutes of the session as Brookes fired himself into the top position for the McAMS Yamaha team, with Jake Dixon and Danny Buchan moving up the order.
The final minutes of the session turned into a rush for the top spot and Irwin came within striking distance, but Haslam fired in another faster lap that put him 0.078s ahead with Brookes holding second ahead of Irwin at the chequered flag.
Dixon and the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki team overcame a small crash at Agostinis to get back out on circuit for the final part of the session, pushing back into the top five at the team’s home round.
Buchan dropped two places in the closing moments to complete the top five, nudging Luke Mossey back into sixth position on the second of the JG Speedfit Kawasakis.
Andrew Irwin delivered an impressive performance on his Superbike debut at Snetterton to hold seventh place on the Be Wiser Ducati, moving ahead of his more experienced rivals James Ellison, Michael Laverty and Tarran Mackenzie who completed the top ten.
Bradley Ray missed out on a top ten position by just 0.184s as he bids to close the 14-point deficit to championship leader Haslam in the two races on Sunday.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Free Practice one:
1.Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:48.051s
2.James Ellison (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.395s
3.Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.663s
4.Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.674s
5.Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.816s
6.Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.841s
7.Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +0.909s
8.Richard Cooper (Buildbase Suzuki) +1.041s
9.Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.114s
10.Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +1.197s
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Free Practice two result:
1.Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 1m:47.674s
2.Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +0.078s
3.Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.111s
4.Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +0.126s
5.Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.320s
6.Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.618s
7.Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.700s
8.James Ellison (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.727s
9.Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.778s
10.Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.809s
The next round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship take place at Snetterton on June 15/16/17. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Leon Haslam
(JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
Free Practice pace-setter
“It is always nice to be fastest; we made steps from the test today and it felt good getting back on the BSB bike. You know it always feels different compared to both the World Superbike and the Suzuka 8 Hour bikes I have ridden recently, so I am really happy with the first day.
“Last year I was injured here, the year before we had a problem with the bike, for me podiums should always be possible, but the Ducati is always super strong here. I can’t remember when Kawasaki last won at Snetterton, but each track has strengths and weaknesses. We know we are losing out in a couple of parts of the track to the Ducatis and Yamahas, but we have strengths in different areas.
“For me it’s not about making our strong points stronger, it’s about making our weak parts better and that is what we are working on.”