MCE British Superbike Championship TT Circuit Assen, Netherlands September 21, 2013 Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):

From Knockout Qualifying Session Three:

1. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:36.261 2. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:36.638 3. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:37.134 4. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:37.220 5. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:37.336 6. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:37.723 7. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR, 1:38.105 8. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:38.307 9. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:38.391 10. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:38.405

From Knockout Qualifying Session Two:

11. Danny De Boer, Netherlands (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:38.471 12. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:38.546 13. Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:38.629 14. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:38.972 15. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199), 1:38.174 16. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:39.237 17. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:40.881

From Knockout Qualifying Session One:

18. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:37.666 19. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.230 20. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:39.512 21. David Johnson, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:40.669 22. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:40.727 23. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:41.660

Other Americans in action at Assen: Jayson Uribe, riding his Rock and Sons Racing Honda RS125, was 31st out of 39 riders overall in Monster Energy British Motorstar/ONK Dutch 125cc/Moto3 qualifying Saturday. Uribe’s best time of 1:53.890 ranked him 17th in the British Motostar 125cc category. The overall fastest time in the session was 1:46.921 by Jerry Van De Bunt, a Dutch 125cc class competitor.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Round 10 Assen 21/22 September TITLE FIGHTER LOWES SCORCHES TO ASSEN SHOWDOWN OPENING POLE START Results Datatag Extreme qualifying: 1: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1m:36.261s 2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.377s 3: Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.496s 4: James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.959s 5: Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) +1.075s 6: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +1.462s Report Alex Lowes scored an important psychological blow over his MCE Insurance British Superbike title rival Shane “Shakey” Byrne by outpacing the defending champion to take pole position for the opening Showdown race at Assen. Samsung Honda’s Lowes had been consistently fast across every session and the title protagonist repeated his pole start of last season at a pace that surprised his rivals as he clocked a best time of 1m 36.621secs around the Dutch circuit. Lowes said: “It went pretty good for me and feels good. The bike works well here and now it is down to me to put two good races together. I am feeling pretty confident and will give 100% and go for it.” He goes into these race determined to close down the six points deficit he has on Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne who closed within 0.371secs of him to be on the front row of the grid though the rider who is bidding to take the British crown for a record fourth time admitted he was stunned by his rivals pace. “I saw my time was in the 1m 36secs and then saw he had gone even faster and I thought how did he do that,” said Byrne. “I’m happy enough with my race pace and it looks all set for a big battle between us. He is my target and I guess that I am his.” Tommy Bridewell, who joined the Milwaukee Yamaha team mid-week, completes the front row of the grid, just ahead of his Title Fighter team-mate James Ellison who struggled with a down on power engine. Jakub Smrz on the Padgetts Honda and Aussie Title Fighter Josh Brookes on the Tyco Suzuki are also on the second row. Ryuichi Kiyonari, like Byrne bidding for a record fourth British title, set seventh fastest time on his Samsung Honda to start from the third row alongside the sixth of the Title Fighters James Westmoreland riding the Buildbase BMW. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

FRONT ROW FOR BRIDEWELL AS ELLISON DENIED CHANCE TO CHALLENGE FOR POLE Milwaukee Yamaha continued to build for the opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown at Assen today as Tommy Bridewell scored a front row position on his qualifying debut with the team as James Ellison was denied the chance to push in the final session. Both Ellison and Bridewell had been consistently improving their pace and when it came down to the race one grid decider both riders were able to comfortably move into Q3 and the final top ten session. Ellison was ready to try and move into the 1m:36s lap time barrier but a problem with the fuel injector left him fourth and heading the second row as he bids to close the gap in the standings tomorrow. Bridewell meanwhile had an impressive performance as he qualified third on the grid on his first weekend with the Milwaukee Yamaha squad. Ellison said: “I am a bit unhappy to be honest as one of the fuel injectors went down during Q3 so it was on three and a half with less power than I normally would have. To start with I thought it felt weird because it didn’t have as much when I opened the throttle but we persevered and equalled what I did in Q2, although it was disappointing as I felt we had a 1m:36s time in there to come. I am confident with my pace for the race tomorrow and although I feel cheesed off now I would rather it happened in qualifying than in the race as the second row isn’t the end of the world.” Bridewell said: “It feels great to be on the front row but it hasn’t been an easy weekend because I could have done without crashing first time out yesterday. The team have beared with me so I need to thank them for that; I knew we could then get it sorted come race day. It was unexpected to be on the front row; the Milwaukee Yamaha is a phenomenal package but it is different to what I have been used to so I was unsure how long it would take me to adjust. I am really looking forward to the races and mixing it up with the Showdown riders and getting stuck into them. I want to help James as much as I can in the races so I will do my best for Milwaukee Yamaha to fight for the title. Whatever it takes I will help him and the fun will start tomorrow.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com

More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service:

Josh Brookes will start tomorrow’s opening race of the 2013 British Superbike Championship Showdown from the second row of the grid on his GSX-R1000 after a difficult day of qualifying for the Tyco Suzuki team at Assen in Holland.

And, after showing great consistency on his Assen BSB debut with fourth place in Q1, PJ Jacobsen will start the first BSB race from 18th place after a mechanical issue forced an unexpected retirement from Q2.

Taylor Mackenzie qualified his GSX-R600 in fifth position for today’s British Supersport Sprint race, but a clutch problem on the opening lap forced his retirement and the Scottish rider will start Sunday’s second race from row 10.

Josh Brookes:

“It’s a bit frustrating that we couldn’t match our Q2 time in Q3 but we’ve a few more changes to make for tomorrow’s race and a good start should see me away with the leading group.”

PJ Jacobsen:

“We’d been having a great build-up to the weekend until the mechanical just before Q2. I’m disappointed but these things happen in racing and I know the boys will have it sorted for tomorrow. I’m enjoying the Assen track on the Superbike so I aim to come through the pack and make a race of it on my GSX-R1000 Superbike.”

Taylor Mackenzie:

“On a positive note we’ve carried through the consistency and speed that we demonstrated at Donington Park. The problem we had could have happened to anyone, so I’m not dwelling on it. The GSX-R600 package is working well for me so my grid position is just a little obstacle that I have to overcome. It should make for a fun race.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager:

“After Q1 with Josh and PJ in P2 and P4 and Taylor posting his best-ever Supersport qualifying with fifth place, today was looking to be very promising, but motorcycle racing has a cruel way of biting back at times. PJ has been strong all weekend and was posting very impressive and consistent lap times – taking into account it’s his first time here on a Superbike – and once Josh overcame a few teething problems in the early sessions, he was not far away. He knows what he needs to do tomorrow to strengthen his championship bid.

“Taylor was also unlucky to suffer a mechanical problem in the race after such as strong qualifying. But we’ve proved the strength of both GSX-R packages today in many areas and if we can have an incident-free Sunday, I’m sure all three riders are capable of some top results.”