MCE British Superbike Championship
Brands Hatch Indy Circuit
Kent, England
April 18, 2014
Testing Results:
Superbike (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 45.785 seconds
2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 45.910
3. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.016
4. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.097
5. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 46.330
6. John Hopkins, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 46.345
7. Simon Andrews, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 46.424
8. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR, 46.425
9. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Duc 1199 Panigale), 46.425
10. Dan Linfoot, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.539
11. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 46.621
12. Patric Muff, Switzerland (BMW S1000RR), 46.644
13. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.655
14. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 46.705
15. Michael Rutter, UK (BMW S1000RR), 46.739
16. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.769
17. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 46.818
18. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 46.875
19. Jon Kirkham, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 46.920
20. Mitchell Carr, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 47.052
Supersport:
1. Alistair Seeley (Yam YZF-R6), 46.783 seconds
2. Luke Stapleford (Tri Daytona 675R), 46.835
3. Graeme Gowland (Tri Daytona 675R), 46.869
4. Billy McConnell (Tri Daytona 675R), 46.889
5. Luke Mossey (Tri Daytona 675R), 47.121
6. Luke Hedger (Kaw ZX-6R), 47.272
7. Samuel Hornsey (Tri Daytona 675R), 47.427
8. Taylor Mackenzie (Suz GSX-R600), 47.484
9. Jake Dixon (Yam YZF-R6), 47.572
10. Glenn Irwin (Yam YZF-R6), 47.572
30. James Rispoli (Suz GSX-R600), no time recorded
Other Americans competing at Brands Hatch:
Jayson Uribe was third overall and second in class during Motul British Motostar Free Practice One Friday. Uribe turned a best lap time of 51.180 seconds on his FPW Racing/R5R Honda. Joe Irving was the fastest rider in the class with a lap time of 50.573 seconds on his KTM.
Daniel Costilla was eighth overall and sixth in class during Motul British Motostar Free Practice One Friday. Costilla’s best lap time of 52.071 seconds on his Repli-cast UK Honda.
Danny Eslick was fifth-fastest in Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc Championship with Black Horse Group A test session with a lap time of 47.330 seconds on his ILR Kawasaki ZX-10R. If the two test groups’ time were combined, Eslick would be seventh-fastest overall. The fastest rider in the class Friday was Danny Buchan, who did a lap time of 46.801 seconds on his Kawasaki ZX-10R.
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Round 1 Brands Hatch Indy Circuit 18-21 April
BYRNE EDGES OUT BROOKES AS 2014 MCE BRITISH SUPERBIKES KICK OFF AT BRANDS HATCH
Results
Friday test session:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 45.785s
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.125s
3: Stuart Easton (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.231s
4: Chris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +0.312s
5: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.545s
6: John Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +0.560s
7: Simon Andrews (RAF Reserves Honda) +0.639s
8: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +0.646s
9: Jakub Smrz (Millsport Ducati) +0.693s
10: Dan Linfoot (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.754s
Report
A determined Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne got his assault for a record-breaking fourth MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title off to the best possible start at his home round of Brands Hatch, edging out Australian Josh Brookes in the closing stages of the opening test session.
Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne, still smarting on missing out on the title in the final round of last season, was instantly on the pace throughout a closely fought session as he prepares for Easter Monday’s races in which he intends to extend his record of 51 race wins.
Byrne closed towards the record with a best lap of 45.785s, but the local hero was not totally satisfied and expects more as the weekend continues. He explained: “Generally speaking when I get on the bike I go out and enjoy it and go faster, but for some reason today it just didn’t click. We had things to try and we achieved that, but that said I am happy enough but there is still plenty of room for improvement.”
He had outpaced Brookes who switched to the Milwaukee Yamaha team during the winter by 0.125s. The Australian had been the early pace-setter in the session but was forced to relinquish the position in the final stages.
Brookes is also expecting improvements ahead of the opening two races, he said: “We made changes to improve the bike, but, that also meant we made sacrifices in some areas and now we have to compromise. As a whole to come in P2 to Shakey is less than satisfactory, but having done 34 laps on the same tyre, in hindsight, I should be happy.”
Flying Scot Stuart Easton, back in the top class as Byrne’s team-mate, fresh from winning last year’s Motorpoint British Supersport crown, set the third fastest time ahead of Chris Walker on the Lloyds British GB Moto Kawasaki.
Ryuichi Kiyonari, also bidding to take the MCE BSB title for a fourth time, settled quickly into a rhythm with the Buildbase BMW, to set the fifth fastest time, a split second up on the returning American John Hopkins. The Tyco Suzuki rider is aiming to avenge missing out on the crown by just 0.006s to Tommy Hill back in 2011.
For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com
More, from a press release issued by Mal-Train Racing:
SEELEY TOPS TEST SESSION AT BRANDS FOR MAR-TRAIN RACING PRIOR TO ROUND 1
Following successful tests in Spain and the UK with new recruit Alastair Seeley, Mar-Train Racing will get the defence of their British Supersport crown underway this coming Easter Monday at Brands Hatch in Kent.
Seeley needs little or no introduction to British championship fans having previously won Supersport and Superstock titles, and in 2014, the wee man from Carrickfergus in Northern Ireland will aim to help Mar-Train Racing retain the middleweight British title they collected last year with Stuart Easton.
Having posted lap times close to the Superbike teams at Cartagena in March and recently topped the two-day test at Snetterton in Norfolk – not forgetting today’s test at Brands – the 33-year-old Ulsterman is in confident mood coming into round one of the 2014 Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, as he explained.
Alastair Seeley:
“We’ve done the hard work preparing for this weekend in testing. The team has worked hard and so have I, both on and off track, so it’s now a matter of getting in amongst the rest and getting stuck in. The Mar-Train Yamaha is a great bike which I knew before I came to the team, but we will take nothing for granted and this weekend is all about solid points – although I’ll obviously be gunning for wins if they are there for the taking.”
Having watched Seeley head-up Good Friday’s test session at the Brands Indy Circuit, and looking to the season ahead, team manager Tim Martin added: “It’s certainly nice to start the season as British champions, but once the lights go out for that first race on Sunday afternoon [5.15pm live on Eurosport] we have it all to do again. That’s what racing is all about and that’s why we are here.
“We have brought Alastair into the Mar-Train Racing team because of his racing pedigree and his desire for success, both in British championship and at the North West 200. This weekend we will concentrate on getting our season underway with a solid start at Brands, but to top the opening session, albeit just a test, is confidence inspiring to say the least.”
British Supersport Test – Brands Hatch
1 – Alastair Seeley [Mar-Train Racing] 46.783sec; 2nd – Luke Stapleford [Triumph] +0.052sec; 3rd – Graeme Gowland [Triumph] +0.086sec; 4th – Billy McConnell [Triumph] +0.106sec; 5th – Luke Mossey [Triumph] +0.338sec; 6th – Luke Hedger [Kawasaki] +0.489sec