MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Brands Hatch Kent, England October 12, 2012 Superbike Free Practice Two Results: 1. Alex Lowes (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:26.264 2. Shane Byrne (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.689 3. Barry Burrell (BMW S1000RR), 1:26.731 4. Josh Brookes (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:27.001 5. Karl Harris (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.090 6. James Westmoreland (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.115 7. Michael Laverty (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.327 8. Tommy Hill (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.362 9. Tommy Bridewell (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.401 10. Chris Walker (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.467 1000cc Superstock Qualifying Session One Results: 1. Keith Farmer (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.915 2. P.J. Jacobsen (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.275 3. Victor Cox (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.476 4. Jimmy Storrar (BMW S1000RR), 1:29.478 5. John McGuinness (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:29.856 6. Hudson Kennaugh (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.970 7. Daniel Johnson (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.022 8. Lee Costello (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.084 9. Gary Johnson (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:30.133 10. Leon Morris (Duc), 1:30.181 600cc Superstock Qualifying Session One Results: 1. Lee Jackson (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:31.157 2. Jake Dixon (Yam YZF-R6), 1:31.877 3. Joe Collier (Tri Daytona 675), 1:31.915 4. Alex Olsen (Tri Daytona 675), 1:32.053 5. James Lodge (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.243 6. Jordan Simpkin (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.330 7. Ben Burke (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.341 8. Tim Hastings (Kaw ZX-6R), 1:32.385 9. Johnny Blackshaw (Tri Daytona 675), 1:32.385 10. James Rose (Yam YZF-R6), 1:32.427 29. James Rispoli (Yam YZF-R6), 1:34.822 Monster Energy British Motostar Championship & Motostar Cup Free Practice Two Results: 1. Bradley Ray (Hon), 1:36.620 2. Tom Carne (Hon), 1:37.498 3. Luke Hedger (Hon), 1:37.707 4. Tarran Mackenzie (KTM), 1:37.992 5. Jordan Weaving (Hon), 1:38.297 6. Joe Francis (Hon), 1:38.379 7. Kyle Ryde (Hon), 1:38.573 8. Peter Sutherland (Apr), 1:38.599 9. Philip Wakefield (Seel), 1:38.909 10. Oliver Fitzpatrick (Hon), 1:39.880 19. Xavier Zayat (Hon), 1:42.180 22. Anthony Alonso (Hon), 1:43.187 More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: Final round 12-13-14 October Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit LOWES LATE SCORCHER OUTGUNS SERIES LEADER BYRNE IN PRACTICE Results Free practice one: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1m 28.022s 2: Karl Harris (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.934s 3: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +0.936s 4: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +1.339s 5: Chris Walker (Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki) +1.438s 6: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +1.490s Free practice two: 1: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 1m:26.264s 2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.425s 3: Barry Burrell (Buildbase BMW) +0.467s 4: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.737s 5: Karl Harris (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.826s 6: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +0.851s Report Alex Lowes underlined his late challenge for the MCE Insurance British Superbike crown by scorching to the top of the times in free practice today ahead of series leader Shane Byrne, as the title protagonists prepare for the final three title-deciding races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit. WFR Honda’s Lowes, who had run third fastest in the drying morning session, upped the pace in the afternoon and saved the best for last to bump Byrne to second place in the closing minute. Young gun Lowes goes into Saturday afternoon’s race in third place in the standings, 24 points down on Byrne but with two races on Sunday afternoon he knows there is still a real chance to snatch the crown. “Being realistic, it will take a mistake from the guys, Shane and Josh Brookes in front of me in the standings for that to happen,” said Lowes, adding: “I have nothing to lose so I intend to go out there and enjoy these last races, have a good fight with the boys and go for the wins.” Byrne had set the pace in the morning session aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawaski and is prepared to battle for a record equalling third British title. He has a nine points advantage over Aussie Josh Brookes who was fourth fastest overall on his Tyco Suzuki. But the three other Title Fighters in this final Showdown round had mixed fortunes. Michael Laverty spent both sessions working hard on the settings of his Samsung Honda in an effort to extend tyre life. He was seventh fastest, just ahead of Swan Yamaha’s reigning champion Tommy Hill. Supersonic BMW’s Tommy Bridewell meanwhile remained eighth fastest despite taking a bruising with a left hand and finger injury in a heavy crash at Stirlings Bend which saw the session briefly halted. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Swan Yamaha: SWAN YAMAHA BUILDING FOR RACE ONE AT BRANDS HATCH The Swan Yamaha team were back on track at Brands Hatch today in preparation for the final three races of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season, which get underway tomorrow afternoon with qualifying and race one. The opening session was hampered by a drying track and both Tommy Hill and Noriyuki Haga utilised the time available to make changes to their Swan Yamahas in preparation for tomorrow’s first race. Hill was feeling confident that the team would be in a position to challenge for the front row tomorrow whilst Haga is also targeting further improvement. Hill said: “It was a tough start this morning as the conditions were not ideal but we went out to find our feet. We went up the order and then at the end of the session it dried out so this afternoon we have been able to test a few things to try and move forward. We have been trying to get a new tyre working better as we have been able to do some good runs on used tyres, but we just need to find something extra. We need to step up tomorrow and be ready to try and get a front row qualifying position so we can challenge in the first race.” Haga said: “This morning was difficult as the conditions were changing but this afternoon we knew that we needed to make some changes to the suspension to improve the balance. We had a technical problem and we had to fix that first so we did spend time there, so tomorrow we have some more changes to make and hope for a good qualifying.” For more information visit www.swanyamaha.co.uk More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes is primed and ready for the final throw of the dice in this weekend’s British Superbike Championship Showdown that kicked-off today at Brands Hatch in Kent for the triple-header finale. The Australian is just nine points off the British Championship lead and in second place as the series enters the final three races of the season tomorrow and on Sunday. Consistency is paramount in the search of any championship, which Brookes has demonstrated this season with 17 podiums so far, and with three wins in four races at Donington and Assen in the Netherlands, the New South Wales rider is ready for what is being built as the most-exciting showdown in recent history with several riders capable of winning. Josh Brookes: “We have worked hard to get this far and we know collectively as a team what job we need to do this weekend to try and win the British Superbike Championship. All six Showdown contenders are mathematically still in with a chance, but I have every confidence in my crew and the GSX-R1000 Suzuki. The rest we will just have to wait and see.” Alastair Seeley: “This weekend I would like to end the season on a high. We had a good result here at the start of the year but this weekend is about trying to win the Championship as a team. I’ll be doing my best to help Josh out if possible.” Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It’s been a long hard season and all my team; Josh and the GSX-R1000 Suzuki have proven to be a championship-challenging package. The Showdown format is loved by some and hated by others, but it does guarantee a fitting climax to a very strong and popular British Superbike Championship. Our aim is to change nothing and keep ticking all the right boxes this weekend. The title, in my eyes, is currently in Shakey’s own hands. He’s got a nine-point lead, he’s racing in his own back yard; and also has a good record here, but we’ll be doing our utmost to spoil the party. I’m sure there will be a few twists and turns along the way and we have over 200 sponsors and guests with us to enjoy the experience.”