Editorial Note: American James Rispoli qualified fifth in British Superstock 1000 with a time of 1:17.208 on his FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R. Danny Buchan got pole position with a lap time of 1:16.780 on his Morello Racing Kawasaki ZX-10R.
MCE British Superbike Championship
Thruxton, England
August 5, 2017
Qualifying Results (all using Pirelli tires and Motec ECUs):
From Knockout Qualifying Session Three:
1. Jake Dixon, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:14.052
2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 1:14.256
3. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:14.657
4. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:14.780
5. Shane Byrne, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:15.193
6. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:15.268
7. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR SP2), 1:15.439
8. John Hopkins, USA (Duc Panigale R), 1:15.670
9. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), no time recorded in Q3
From Knockout Qualifying Session Two:
10. Bradley Ray, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:15.015
11. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), 1:15.071
12. Michael Rutter, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:15.084
13. James Westmoreland, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:15.230
14. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:15.282
15. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:15.336
16. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), 1:15.650
17. Andy Reid, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:15.800
18. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:15.948
From Knockout Qualifying Session One:
19. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:15.811
20. Glenn Irwin, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:15.819
21. Michael Laverty, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:16.078
22. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:16.085
23. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:16.469
24. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:16.707
25. Michael Dunlop, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:18.018
26. Billy McConnell, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), no time recorded
27. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10RR), no time recorded
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Dixon does it in Datatag Qualifying to claim Thruxton pole position
Jake Dixon claimed pole position for the RAF Reserves Kawasaki team with an inch perfect Superpole lap in Datatag Qualifying to win the one lap shootout for the first time at the high-speed Thruxton circuit in Hampshire.
The battle had been intense to make the top nine for the final stage of Datatag Qualifying but first up was John Hopkins who headed out for Superpole with the Moto Rapido Ducati team for the first time this season. The American set a benchmark time of 1m:15.670s, which was slower than his time in Q2.
Jason O’Halloran was next to be released for his flying lap and the Australian fired the Honda Racing Fireblade ahead by 0.171s to hit the top spot with defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne up next.
The Be Wiser Ducati rider went to the top of the times with his Superpole flying lap, but clearly frustrated, Byrne didn’t stay there for long as his rivals rolled out for their attack on a Superpole time.
Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon was ready to roll next and he moved ahead of Byrne by 0.413s to become the first rider to dip into the 1m:14s lap times in the final stage of qualifying – something that all nine of the Superpole riders achieved in Q2.
Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was next and the Australian had been the pace setter in the final free practice session this morning. Brookes fired himself ahead of his rivals by 0.524s with Iddon in second and Byrne in third place.
Smiths Racing BMW’s Peter Hickman has been in contention throughout free practice and he didn’t disappoint in Datatag Qualifying as he moved second and 0.401s adrift of Brookes who maintained the top position.
The sole JG Speedfit Kawasaki headed out on track in the hands of Leon Haslam as Luke Mossey remains sidelined after his free practice three crash, but it was a disaster for the ‘Pocket Rocket’ as he crashed out at the chicane unhurt leaving him ninth on the grid.
Dixon was the penultimate rider to head out for his flying lap and the RAF Reserves Kawasaki rider kept his cool to launch himself ahead of Brookes and Hickman with only Dan Linfoot left to take on Superpole.
Linfoot’s flying lap put him sixth on the timesheets ahead of tomorrow’s two races at Thruxton.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Thruxton, Datatag Qualifying result:
1.Jake Dixon (RAF Reserves Kawasaki) 1m:14.052s
2.Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.204s
3.Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing BMW) +0.605s
4.Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.728s
5.Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +1.141s
6.Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +1.216s
7.Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +1.387s
8.John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +1.618s
9.Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Jake Dixon
RAF Reserves Kawasaki
“I have felt good all weekend to be fair from free practice. I have felt strong and we have been quick as the RAF Reserves Kawasaki is working really well.
“The team have done a fantastic job because the grip didn’t seem as much this afternoon, and I thought I could have done a lap time in the 1m:13s.
“I did muck up a sector but I still knew it was a good lap. I thought Josh was going to take it from me on his lap, but we have done our homework so hopefully we can have two good results tomorrow.”
More, from a press release issued by Be Wiser Ducati:
Row Two Start For Byrne At Thruxton
Be Wiser Ducati Racing Team duo Shane Byrne and Glenn Irwin had a tough afternoon at Thruxton today when they qualified in fifth and 20th place respectively for this weekend’s seventh round of the 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship at Thruxton.
Riding the factory-backed Ducati Panigale R for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team, five-times and defending champion Byrne looked comfortable throughout free practice and he made it through Datatag Extreme Q1, posting the second fastest time before going quicker still in Q2 although such was the pace a lap of 1m 14.790s was only good enough for seventh quickest.
That meant the Sittingbourne rider was through to Datatag Extreme Superpole but Shakey, like other riders, was unable to go quicker and despite his best efforts during the single qualifying lap, his time was 1m 15.193s which placed him fifth overall and in the middle of the second row for tomorrow’s opening 20-lap race.
Team-mate Irwin was continuing his return from injury and finished in the top twelve of all three of the free practice sessions, putting him just a second off Josh Brookes’ quickest time and in a strong position ahead of Datatag Extreme Qualifying.
Having taken his maiden BSB podium at the Hampshire circuit twelve months ago, the Carrickfergus rider was in confident mood prior to qualifying but it proved to be an extremely tough Q1 session for the 27 year old and with a quickest time of 1m 15.819s, he could only manage 20th place. It meant he was knocked out after the conclusion of Q1 and a seventh row start gives him a lot of work to do in tomorrow’s opening race.
Shane Byrne: “I’m not happy at all with how qualifying and Superpole went but I guess fifth isn’t the end of the world. We’ve had a really difficult weekend so far and after two strong meetings, we had high hopes coming to Thruxton especially as the bike went so well last year. It just hasn’t worked like it did in 2016 though and it’s really frustrating as I’ve been trying really hard but we’ll work hard as a team overnight and look to make a few changes to the bike for tomorrow.”
Glenn Irwin: “Both Shakey and I struggled today albeit at a different level and the bike’s not in the sweet spot at the moment. It doesn’t mean we can’t turn it around though as it was a similar story last year and it all came good on race day. My injury’s still an issue but it’s a lot better than it was at Brands and I don’t want to use it as an excuse. It’s just tough going and hard to take at present as before the injury I was riding well and looking for my first race win whereas now, we’re battling just to make it into the points.”
Phil Borley, Technical Director: “It’s been a tough afternoon and a disappointing outcome although I don’t think the qualifying positions reflect our race pace. Glenn didn’t manage to get a clear lap in to begin with in Q1 and then on his second run, a problem with the bike dented his hopes of getting into the top 18 and through to Q2. Shakey was a bit frustrated not to go as quick in qualifying as what he had done in FP3 and he hasn’t got the same feeling with the bike as what he did in 2016. He’s looking for the bike to work better in certain parts of the circuit but whilst he’s struggling a little with the one-lap pace, his race pace is good. Obviously, we’re hoping both riders improve on their qualifying performances in both races.”