MCE British Superbike Championship

Brands Hatch Indy Circuit

Leeds, England

April 16, 2017

Qualifying Results (All on Pirelli tires):

From Qualifying Session Three:

1. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 44.728 seconds

2. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 44.931

3. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 44.933

4. Shane Byrne, UK (Duc Panigale R), 45.030

5. John Hopkins, USA (Duc Panigale R), 45.044

6. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR), 45.120

7. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW S1000RR), 45.182

8. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 45.384

9. Michael Laverty, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 45.483

From Qualifying Session Two:

10. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 45.298

11. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), 45.327

12. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 45.379

13. Glenn Irwin, UK (Duc Panigale R), 45.391

14. Jake Dixon, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 45.408

15. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 45.502

16. Sylvain Guintoli, France (Suz GSX-R1000), 45.556

17. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW S1000RR), 45.600

18. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 45.674

From Qualifying Session One:

19. Bradley Ray, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 45.928

20. Billy McConnell, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 45.938

21. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), 46.345

22. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 46.547

23. James Westmoreland, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), no time recorded

24. Davide Giugliano, Italy (BMW S1000RR), no time recorded

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:

Astonishing lap puts Ellison on pole for McAMS Yamaha at Brands Hatch

James Ellison claimed pole position for the second round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch this afternoon as the McAMS Yamaha rider obliterated the lap record, holding off Luke Mossey by 0.203s with Leon Haslam completing the front row.

An incredibly close final session of qualifying started with Leon Haslam coming straight out on track first; the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider setting the first 44 second lap of the weekend to set the benchmark for his rivals.

Luke Mossey had been the fastest rider on circuit this morning and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider then posted his best lap of the weekend; pushing Haslam back into second, but as he crossed the line Ellison was a on a flier and he grabbed the top position.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was pushing to put himself on the front row; however despite his best attempts he will head the second row, just 0.097s adrift off Haslam’s time. He will be joined by fellow Ducati rider John Hopkins; the American still overcoming his broken toes from Donington Park to set the fifth fastest time.

Jason O’Halloran fired the Honda Racing Fireblade into the top six as he pushed Christian Iddon back onto row three ahead of Josh Brookes and Michael Laverty.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Datatag Qualifying:

James Ellison (McAMS Yamaha) 44.728s

Luke Mossey (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.203s

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.205s

Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.302s

John Hopkins (Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.316s

Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.392s

Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.454s

Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.656s

Michael Laverty (McAMS Yamaha) +0.755s

For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

James Ellison

McAMS Yamaha

Pole position

“I am so happy to be on pole position. We had been struggling a bit in sector one and I knew that was where Luke was strong, but then it was the opposite between us in the final sector.

“We made some changes and I was then able to get closer to Luke. I knew he was the danger man for one lap and race distance and I think we have found a good setting on both tyre combinations now, so I am feeling confident.

“It will be tough and I am going to have to stick my neck out, but that’s how the championship is this year. I don’t want Leon to beat me this time as it was so close last year! I am looking forward to a good battle in the races tomorrow.”

More, from a press release issued by Be Wiser Ducati:

Row Two Start For Byrne At Brands Hatch

Reigning MCE British Superbike champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will line up on the second row of the grid for tomorrow’s opening race for round two of the series at Brands Hatch in Kent after qualifying in fourth place on the Be Wiser Ducati this afternoon.

Making his return from injury, which forced him out of the opening round at Donington Park two weeks ago, the Sittingbourne rider had run inside the top three on the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R throughout the three free practice sessions around the 1.2-mile Indy circuit and so was in confident mood heading into the Datatag Extreme Qualifying session.

The threat of rain kept everyone on their toes but thankfully it stayed away enough not to slow lap times and a lap of 45.379s saw Byrne successfully progress from Q1 into Q2. With the seventh quickest time in Q2, the five-times champion made it through to Q3 and he saved the best until last, his quickest lap of the weekend, 45.030s, putting him in fourth place overall.

Team-mate Glenn Irwin also enjoyed a profitable afternoon on his Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R and he too went into qualifying in a good state of mind after posting the seventh fastest time over the course of the free practice sessions. He too progressed comfortably into Q2 after setting the seventh fastest time in Q1.

However, despite lapping quicker in Q2 and only three tenths of a second off the quickest time, the Carrickfergus rider’s time of 45.391s left him in 13th place meaning he’ll start the first 30-lap race from the fifth row of the grid.

Shane Byrne: “We’ve had really good pace all weekend and it was very pleasing to have the extra session on Friday after losing a lot of track time at Donington Park. The team and I have worked methodically with the changes and set-up of the bike but we’ve been on the limit in terms of outright pace for that one flying lap. When it comes to our race pace, though, it’s a different story and I’m very confident that we have the set-up to run at the front during the races. We’ve a few more things to try in morning warm up and whilst 30 laps round the Indy circuit is hard work, I’ll take a race win, and podium credits, over pole position.”

Glenn Irwin: “The grid position doesn’t look that good but I’m feeling really good and confident for tomorrow’s race day. My flying lap early in Q2 got messed up when another rider made a mistake in front of me but my race pace is really good and my fastest lap of the session came on lap 14 so that shows how good our pace is on the softer tyre. We made some changes between Q1 and Q2 which helped considerably and, in hindsight, I probably should have used another qualifying tyre to ensure we got through to Q3 but I’m confident I can maintain my top six finishes.”

Phil Borley, Technical Director: “Qualifying didn’t quite go as we would have liked as instead of having our two riders on the first and second rows, we’re lining up on the second and fifth rows. On the plus side, both riders have very good race pace and tyre life looks good so if both riders can make good starts, I’m confident we can achieve some podium finishes.”

Qualifying Positions

1 James Ellison (Yamaha)

2 Luke Mossey (Kawasaki)

3 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki)

4 Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati)

5 John Hopkins (Ducati)

6 Jason O’Halloran (Honda)

13 Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati)

For more information, please visit www.pbmuk.net or www.pbmuk.net