MCE British Superbike Championship

Snetterton Circuit, England

June 19, 2015

Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kawasaki), 1:47.664

2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), 1:47.798

3. James Ellison, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.230

4. Chris Walker, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.322

5. Broc Parkes, Australia (Yamaha), 1:48.323

6. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.378

7. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati), 1:48.569

8. Stuart Easton, UK (Kawasaki), 1:48.713

9. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Honda), 1:48.754

10. Christian Iddon, UK (Suzuki), 1:48.880

11. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW), 1:48.996

12. Tommy Bridewell, UK (BMW), 1:49.016

13. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW), 1:49.039

14. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), 1:49.090

15. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kawasaki), 1:49.164

16. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.274

17. Richard Cooper, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.439

18. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), 1:49.481

19. James Westmoreland, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.607

20. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.684

21. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), 1:49.701

22. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW), 1:49.895

23. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kawasaki), 1:49.935

24. Josh Waters, Australia (Suzuki), 1:50.059

25. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW), 1:50.266

26. Victor Cox, UK (Kawasaki), 1:50.959

27. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kawasaki), 1:51.288

28. Joe Burns, UK (Kawasaki), 1:51.573

29. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kawasaki), 1:51.693

30. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yamaha), 1:51.953

31. Danny Johnson, UK (Kawasaki), 1:52.601

32. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Honda), 1:52.758

33. James Rose, UK (Kawasaki), 1:52.877

34. Lee Costello, UK (Kawasaki), 1:53.128

35. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kawasaki), 1:54.120

Qualifying Lap Time (107.5% of 1:47.664) = 1:55.738

36. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Italy (MV Agusta), 1:56.525

37. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kawasaki), 2:00.242

American James Rispoli was fourth-fastest in British Supersport Free Practice Two. Riding his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6, Rispoli recorded a lap time of 1:51.820. Luke Stapleford was the fastest rider in the session with a 1:50.677 on his Triumph.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Shakey comes out fighting at Snetterton with record pace in practice

Free practice one:

1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 1m:47.670s

2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.187s

3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.863s

4: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +1.404s

5: Jakub Smrz (Lloyds British Ducati) +1.559s

6: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +1.580s

Free practice two:

1: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) 1m:47.664s

2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.134s

3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.566s

4: Chris Walker (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.658s

5: Broc Parkes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.659s

6: Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.714s

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne delivered a reminder to his rivals that he intends to return to winning ways in the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship and regain the lead in the title stakes at Snetterton this weekend (19/20/21 June).

The PBM Kawasaki rider upped the pace to run inside the lap record with a time of 1m 47.664s in the afternoon session to finally break the challenge of Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes as the pair went head-to-head in an intense battle for the top throughout the two opening sessions.

Byrne admits he has had a difficult start to the defence of his record fourth crown. He started the season carrying an injury and has only scored a single victory back in April, and crashed out at the previous round with Ryuichi Kiyonari. Shakey scored a double victory at the Norfolk circuit last season and now has his sights set on closing the eight points deficit to the current series leader James Ellison.

Ellison on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider was third fastest and 0.566s adrift of Byrne at the top, but Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Chris Walker was also closing and the four times runner-up in the series held fourth position ahead of the second Milwaukee Yamaha of Broc Parkes.

Howie Mainwaring made his return to the top ten in sixth place after pushing ahead of Czech rider Jakub Smrz who held seventh position on the Lloyds British MotoRapido Ducati after pushing ahead of Stuart Easton and Jason O’Halloran on the leading Honda Racing Fireblade.

Bennetts Suzuki’s Christian Iddon completed a top ten featuring five different manufacturers and eight different teams, whilst Ryuichi Kiyonari dropped to eleventh after suffering a technical problem during the session with the Buildbase BMW that limited his track time, before getting back on the pace later in the session.

Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)

Fatest rider after opening two practice sessions:

“Today has actually been difficult despite what the time sheets say! We had some problems this morning and the team worked hard to fix it, which they did. We then concentrated on the bike set-up and to be honest at the moment is not where I like or need to be. We tried a few bits and pieces and now as a team we will come up with a plan for tomorrow to get the job done. I know we are capable and we will work harder to make it feel better for qualifying. I think we are there or thereabouts and that the boys will find the solution.”

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

Milwaukee Yamaha lock out top five positions in opening Snetterton sessions

The Milwaukee Yamaha team had a positive start to the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Snetterton with both Josh Brookes and Broc Parkes holding positions in the top five after the opening two free practice sessions.

Brookes had lapped the Norfolk circuit in record-breaking pace at the recent official test and in the opening sessions he was again posting times within his existing lap record to be holding second on the timesheets, 0.134s adrift of the fastest time. Brookes was confident that the times will continue to tumble on the second day on circuit as the track’s grip levels continue to rise.

Parkes had a positive start to his weekend too; the Australian pushing inside the top five on the second of the Milwaukee Yamahas and 0.6s adrift of the fastest lap of the day, something that he was content with on the opening day knowing the team have more to come tomorrow for qualifying.

Josh Brookes

“The tricky thing is that the grip is level is down today compared to the test we had here so we have been riding around and trying to understand things. If we put the grip level back to where it was at the test, we would able to replicate what we did then. When he had more grip it kind of disguised any set-up problems but they have been highlighted today with the lower grip. We have not made any changes, rather gathering information from me and from the data.

“We did a long run in the second session and the lap times were consistent and the bike was fairly kind to the tyres. We have been kind of steady as the bike is in a good range so it is hard to move away from that. We have the idea to change the engine braking and to change the fork settings as the grip levels have uncovered some problems. The front wants to slide while basically the rear has more grip than the front. We need to work on that and hopefully we can get it equal then the bike will be better.”

Broc Parkes

“We have changed something a bit with the front fork that Josh tested that I didn’t get a chance to and basically went in a direction with the setting that we didn’t have time to at the test. That is something we had up our sleeve and fortunately it worked. I felt comfortable on the bike although it took me a bit of time to get back in the groove this morning after riding other bikes since the test, but I think in general that was good.

“I am feeling more comfortable with the laps we have done today and my pace is pretty good. To be six tenths from the top is close enough for now and I think on used tyres we have good pace and I could make passes. In the braking where I have struggled a bit this year I was confident and that is important and I feel much better.”