British Superbike: Leon Haslam Tops FP2 As Donington Park Starts To Dry Out (Updated)

British Superbike: Leon Haslam Tops FP2 As Donington Park Starts To Dry Out (Updated)

© 2018, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship

Donington Park, England

March 31, 2018

Free Practice Two Results (wet conditions, all on Pirelli tires):

1. Leon Haslam, UK (Kawasaki), 1:39.690

2. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW), 1:39.828

3. James Ellison, UK (Yamaha), 1:39.875

4. Jake Dixon, UK (Kawasaki), 1:40.063

5. Bradley Ray, UK (Suzuki), 1:40.744

6. Jason O’Halloran, UK (Honda), 1:40.975

7. Gino Rea, UK (Suzuki), 1:41.464

8. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW), 1:41.486

9. Richard Cooper, UK (Suzuki), 1:41.575

10. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Suzuki), 1:41.805

11. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), 1:42.507

12. Tarran Mackenzie, UK (Yamaha), 1:42.561

13. Shane Byrne, UK (Ducati), 1:42.625

14. David Johnson, Australia (BMW), 1:42.825

15. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), 1:43.265

16. Mason Law, UK (Kawasaki), 1:43.349

17. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), 1:43.411

18. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Ducati), 1:43.414

19. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), 1:43.880

20. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), 1:44.689

21. Dean Harrison, UK (Kawasaki), 1:45.184

22. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yamaha), 1:46.544

23. Kyle Ryde, UK (Yamaha), 1:46.775

24. Sylvain Barrier, France (BMW), 1:46.896

25. Carl Phillips, UK (Kawasaki), 1:46.963

26. Connor Cummins, UK (Honda), 1:47.490

27. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.025

28. William Dunlop, UK (Yamaha), 1:48.742

29. Glenn Irwin, UK (Ducati), no time recorded

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

Haslam heads the pack at Donington Park ahead of Sunday’s opening race

Home hero Leon Haslam topped the times in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship free practice session at Donington Park this afternoon as the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider set the pace in improving conditions ahead of tomorrow’s rescheduled opening race of the season.

Haslam’s pace-setting performance came after a revised schedule was issued for the remainder of the weekend due to the forecasted weather conditions, meaning the Bennetts BSB riders are now getting set for free practice three, Datatag Qualifying and race one at the Leicestershire circuit tomorrow (Sunday).

Haslam topped the opening day, but in the second free practice session Christian Iddon had been leading for much of the early stages for Tyco BMW. Jake Dixon also had a spell at the top before the closing five minutes as Haslam pushed into the 1m:39s lap barrier, to be just 0.138s ahead of Iddon who also improved on his final run.

James Ellison also posted a time to head the session in the final 20 minutes, with the local Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha team holding third place at the chequered flag with Dixon dropping to fourth in the final moments.

Bradley Ray was the leading Buildbase Suzuki in fifth place ahead of Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and OMG Racing Suzuki’s Gino Rea who had also been running inside the top five earlier in the session ahead of his Bennetts BSB race debut tomorrow.

Jakub Smrz was eighth fastest for PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW ahead of Richard Cooper who had a crash in the afternoon session and Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten.

Defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne had left it until the second half of the session to head out on circuit, posting the 13th fastest time whilst Josh Brookes and Danny Buchan had a crash together, when the McAMS Yamaha rider fell, taking the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki contender with him, both riders were ok but had a premature end to their day.

Glenn Irwin meanwhile had returned to the circuit from Queens Hospital after his crash in this morning second free practice session and has passed a medical to ride in tomorrow’s opening race.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Free Practice 1:

1. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:50.317s

2. Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +1.437s

3. Kyle Ryde (CF Motorsport Yamaha Motorsport Yamaha) +1.857s

4. Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +2.674s

5. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +2.888s

6. Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +3.317s

7. Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki) +4.312s

8. Jakub Smrz (PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW) +4.912s

9. Danny Buchan (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +5.225s

10. Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +5.550s

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Free Practice two:

1. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 1m:39.690s

2. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 0.138s

3. James Ellison (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +0.185s

4. Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +0.373s

5. Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) 1.054s

6. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +1.285s

7. Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki) +1.774s

The opening round of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike Championship take place this Easter weekend at Donington Park. For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Leon Haslam

(JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

Fastest rider of the day

“The first day here at Donington Park has been a cold one and although the track was dry this afternoon, we stayed on wet tyres because the track temperature was so cold. It ended well and we have good information tomorrow.

“The schedule change means we now have a race tomorrow and so I am looking forward to getting the racing underway now and I am looking forward to putting on a good show to try and get the season started as we did last year – with wins.”

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