More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing (MSVR):
Vickers leads Jackson as race one beckons at Cadwell Park
Ryan Vickers was back at the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice times at Cadwell Park as the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider topped the combined times in changeable conditions in Lincolnshire.
The times tumbled in the afternoon session after the earlier rain halted, but by the end of Free Practice two the showers returned and it was a hectic final ten minutes as riders pushed to be inside the top 12 to automatically qualify for Omologato Superpole tomorrow.
Vickers hit the top of the times at the halfway point and then upped the pace to maintain his position ahead of his rivals with the battle for the top three switching constantly until the final five minutes when Lee Jackson surged into second on the MasterMac Honda.
Reigning champion Tommy Bridewell moved into third for Honda Racing UK, nudging Danny Buchan into fourth on the DAO Racing Kawasaki, whilst Jason O’Halloran launched into fifth in the closing stages on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki.
Andrew Irwin was sixth fastest ahead of Kyle Ryde, who left it late to surge into the top 12 on the second of the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing R1s, with Christian Iddon completing the top eight.
Charlie Nesbitt held ninth position, making it both MasterMac Hondas in the top 12 ahead of Team LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki’s Storm Stacey. Danny Kent and Josh Brookes were the riders completing the riders automatically heading into Omologato Superpole.
Leon Haslam and Peter Hickman were the first riders to narrowly miss out and will have to progress through tomorrow’s Speedy Hire Q1 session, as will Hager PBM Ducati’s Glenn Irwin in 19th position.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Combined Free Practice result:
1. Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) 1m37.026s
2. Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.620s
3. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.654s
4. Danny Buchan (DAO Racing Kawasaki) +0.792s
5. Jason O’Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +1.067s
6. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.173s
7. Kyle Ryde (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +1.205s
8. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +1.254s
9. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +1.488s
10. Storm Stacey (LKQ Euro Car Parts Kawasaki) +1.539s
11. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +1.642s
12. Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +1.747s
For more information on the Bennetts British Superbike Championship visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Ryan Vickers
OMG GRILLA Racing Yamaha
“I am feeling really good here at Cadwell Park. We only did a few laps in the first session today as it was really wet and as we went to go for our second run it really started again so it was risk over reward and the rest of the weekend’s forecast is looking dry so we left it until FP2.
“It was wet again this afternoon, unfortunately it started dry and then rained again but we did get a drying track and I was feeling really good and the bike was great. We made some set-up changes between the sessions and the bike felt great. We were top of the timesheets by some margin and finished 0.6 quicker in all conditions so I am happy.
“I got into the 25s last night in the test during the dry conditions and quicker than what I thought we would be at on the first night as last year I was only a tenth quicker last year on the SCX tyre, so I thought it would be a bit harder.
“The bike is feeling great and we have improved it since last year and the team are working fantastic. We are seeing some great performance from both me and the bike so I am enjoying it and being here. The fans are out there no matter what the weather; whether it is 30 degrees or 10 degrees so fair play to them and I love seeing all their posts on social media from the Mountain!”
