MCE British Superbike Championship Brands Hatch, England October 18, 2013 Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:25.959 2. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:26.354 3. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.648 4. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.798 5. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.643 6. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.650 7. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.651 8. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.676 9. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:27.914 10. Karl Harris, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.993 11. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:28.005 12. Josh Waters, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.047 13. Barry Burrell, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.123 14. Noriyuki Haga, Japan (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.208 15. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.310 16. Michael Rutter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.368 17. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.368 18. Freddy Foray, France (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:28.508 19. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:28.654 20. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.209 21. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:29.229 22. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199 Panigale), 1:29.363 23. Danny De Boer, Netherlands (Hon CBR1000RR), 1:29.605 24. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:29.903 25. David Linorter, Austria (BMW S1000R), 1:31.310 26. Jamie Poole, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.785 27. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), no time recorded Other Americans racing at Brands Hatch include Tommy Aquino, Michael Corbino and James Rispoli. Aquino, riding his Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R, was 14th in Pirelli National 1000cc Superstock qualifying Friday. Aquino turned a best lap of 1:29.206. The fastest time in the session was a 1:28.563 done by Ashley Beech on a Kawasaki ZX-10R. Rispoli, riding a Team Traction Control Suzuki GSX-R1000, was 31st in Pirelli National 1000cc Superstock qualifying Friday. Rispoli’s best lap time was a 1:30.452. Corbino, riding a spec Triumph Daytona 675R, qualified 19th in Triumph Triple Challenge. Corbino turned a best time of 1:34.775. Tom Oliver captured pole position with a time of 1:32.345. More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: Final Round 18-19-20 October Brands Hatch Grand Prix Circuit BYRNE AND LOWES SET FOR FINAL BRANDS HATCH SHOWDOWN AFTER FREE PRACTICE Results Free practice one: 1: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1m:37.807s 2: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.153s 3: Freddy Foray (Samsung Honda) +1.745s 4: PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +2.848s 5: Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) +3.388s 6: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) +4.175s Free practice two: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1m:25.959s 2: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.395s 3: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.689s 4: PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +0.839s 5: Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) +1.684s 6: Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +1.691s Report Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne kicked off the final round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship by showing title rival Alex Lowes that he means business as the defending champion topped the free practice times at his home circuit of Brands Hatch. The two go head-to-head for the country’s premier crown with Byrne leading by a single point in the title stakes after an evenly matched campaign which continued into free practice as they each topped a free practice session at the Kent circuit today. Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne put together a series of consistent laps in the afternoon session as he toppled his Samsung Honda rival from the top after he had set the pace in the morning damp opening practice. Byrne, still suffering pain from the hip injury sustained in the previous round at Silverstone, said: “I know that we can improve the bike further as well as myself. I am riding in the protection zone at the moment but I know that I can push on a bit harder when I have to.” Byrne’s team were working on the bike while he was having treatment from his osteopath to be in good shape for the first of the three races tomorrow (Saturday) afternoon when he faces again the ever present threat of the confident Lowes. The action between them has been electrifying and Lowes is ready for another close trio of races following a photo finish last time out. He said: “I am feeling pretty good and ready. We have used a totally different set-up compared to the previous time we raced here and it is good to be right up there with still more to come.” They have a winner takes all scenario but cannot take anything for granted with title outsider Josh Brookes closing in on them aboard the Tyco Suzuki to be third fastest today although Milwaukee Yamaha’s Title Fighter James Ellison has work to do having set only the seventh best time. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha: MILWAUKEE YAMAHA POSITIVE AFTER OPENING DAY AT BRANDS HATCH The Milwaukee Yamaha team kicked off the final round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch today (Friday) with James Ellison and Tommy Bridewell ending the opening free practice sessions in seventh and eighth respectively. The first session was held in damp conditions and Ellison went out and completed a single lap before watching from the garage for the remainder of the session alongside team-mate Bridewell. However the conditions improved for the second free practice this afternoon and Ellison and Bridewell both had their chance to tackle the Grand Prix circuit in the dry. Ellison and Bridewell may have finished seventh and eighth on the timesheets but the pair are both confident that they will be ready to challenge for the podium in the opening race tomorrow ahead of Sunday’s further two races. Ellison said: “Today has been a bit of an average day and with the mixed conditions this morning it just didn’t work out for us but this afternoon it was a bit better. We found something to improve this afternoon but on my best lap of the session I had to scrap it because of traffic, so we know we have more in reserve. It obviously would be nice to be further up the order at the end of today but I am not worried and we will try and make sure we are not disappointed in the first race tomorrow.” Bridewell said: “Today I was happy with the way it went because realistically everyone else has been here once this year so I was a meeting behind. We missed this morning because of the weather and then this afternoon we just got on with the job and although we are a bit off Shakey and Alex at the top of the times, we are definitely in a good place. We know that tomorrow we can find some more and then hopefully we can have a go for those podiums.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com More, from a press release issued by Mar Train Racing: EASTON LEADS THE WAY WITH PROVISIONAL POLE AT BRANDS HATCH Mar-Train Racing’s British Supersport Championship leader Stuart Easton, set the fastest time in today’s Free Practice 2 session at Brands Hatch in Kent – dispelling any doubt surrounding Easton and the Northern Ireland based team’s championship bid in the final race weekend of the year. Easton currently leads the championship by 19 points over nearest rival Alastair Seeley going into tomorrow’s penultimate British Supersport race over ten laps at the famous Kent venue. Never one to get too excited or over exuberant, the Scottish rider said: “This is my last weekend with Mar-Train Racing in British championship before moving back to the Superbike class, so the plan is to come away with the championship this weekend. “All we need to do is keep doing what we’ve done every other weekend this year. I know the R6 is a good package and the team is good, as they’ve proved for the past two seasons. All I have to do now is complete my job so hopefully everything will come together on the weekend. Team Principal Tim Martin added: “Everyone in the team knows what we have to do this weekend. All the talk and speculation will be over on Sunday night. From our point of view the pressure is definitely on Alastair Seeley, as we don’t need to win now at Brands, we just need to finish behind him. “If we also take into consideration Stuart moving to Superbike next season. I feel it’s an even greater incentive for him, as he wants to leave the Supersport class as champion, which is obviously good for us.” Brands Hatch Schedule Saturday 11.35 – British Supersport Qualifying 16.20 – British Supersport Race 1 [10 laps] Sunday 13.30 – British Supersport Race 2 [12 laps] Follow us on Twitter: @martrainracing Follow us on facebook: www.facebook.com/martrainracing www.martrain-racing.co.uk