MCE British Superbike Championship Knockhill Circuit Scotland, United Kingdom June 14, 2013 Superbike Free Practice Two (all on Pirelli tires): 1. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 48.774 seconds 2. Alex Lowes, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 48.870 3. Josh Brookes, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 49.338 4. Peter Hickman, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.403 5. James Westmoreland, UK (BMW S1000RR), 49.525 6. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.626 7. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.640 8. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.694 9. Howie Mainwaring, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 49.742 10. PJ Jacobsen, USA (Suz GSX-R1000), 49.764 11. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.768 12. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 49.866 13. Matteo Baiocco, Italy (Duc 1199), 49.871 14. Jon Kirkham, UK (BMW S1000RR), 49.879 15. Michael Rutter, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 49.910 16. James Ellison, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 49.985 17. Keith Farmer, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 50.103 18. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Hon CBR1000RR), 50.299 19. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 50.344 20. Josh Waters, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 50.538 21. Lee Costello, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 50.635 22. Karl Harris, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 51.022 23. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR), 51.048 24. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 51.123 25. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 51.151 107.5% of 48.774 = 52.432 26. Michael Howarth, UK (Kaw ZX-10R, 52.723 Motorpoint Supersport Free Practice Two Results: 1. Stuart Easton, UK (Yam YZF-R6), 50.087 2. Glen Richards, Australia (Tri Daytona 675R), 50.275 3. Ben Wilson (Kaw ZX-6R), 50.433 4. Alastair Seeley, UK (Kaw ZX-6R), 50.710 5. Billy McConnell (Tri Daytona 675R), 50.747 6. Graeme Gowland (Yam YZF-R6), 50.783 7. Scott Smart, UK (Tri Daytona 675R), 51.039 8. Luke Mossey (Tri Daytona 675R), 51.089 9. Luke Stapleford (Tri Daytona 675R), 51.107 10. Glenn Irwin (Yam YZF-R6), 51.145 The results of other Americans competing at Knockhill: Tommy Aquino was unofficially 11th-fastest in Pirelli National Superstock 1000cc provisional qualifying with a lap time of 50.887 on his Team WD-40 Kawasaki ZX-10R. The fastest time in the 40-rider qualifying session was 50.236 by Tristan Palmer. Jayson Uribe was 14th out of 24 riders in Monster Energy Motostar practice. Riding his Rock and Sons Honda RS125, Uribe did a lap time of 57.858 seconds. Joe Francis had the fastest time in the session at 54.646 seconds. The Triumph Triple Challenge, which includes American Michael Corbino, is not racing at Knockhill. More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision: Round 4 – KNOCKHILL – 14/15/16 JUNE BYRNE KING OF THE HILL IN FREE PRACTICE AS LOWES CRASHES OUT Results Free practice one: 1: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 48.969s 2: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +0.388s 3: Peter Hickman (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.531s 4: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.613s 5: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +0.690s 6: Dan Linfoot (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.707s Free practice two: 1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 48.774s 2: Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.096s 3: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.564s 4: Peter Hickman (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.629s 5: James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +0.751s 6: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +0.852s Report Shane “Shakey” Byrne packed the first punch in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship free practice sessions at Knockhill as the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki ace stormed to the top of the times, taking advantage of a crash from Alex Lowes in the closing stages of the afternoon to move ahead. The reigning champion, who is aiming to overturn the single point deficit he has on current series leader Lowes, managed only a handful of laps in the morning session at the Scottish circuit, but was up to speed later, closing the gap to just 0.001 seconds before then edging faster in his final run on track. Byrne explained: “A potential problem cut short our first session after half a dozen laps, but the team changed engines. It’s been a case of starting afresh, we’re chasing our tails a bit, but we are getting there or thereabouts now, but will be looking for more.” Byrne’s best time came minutes after Lowes made a rare error, crashing his Samsung Honda at the Hairpin, but there were only 0.096 seconds between them. Lowes is ready to bounce back tomorrow, commenting: “That’s my first crash of the year – I made a mistake running into the corner a bit too fast, but hopefully that’s my crashes out of the way now. “Apart from that moment, I’m enjoying the track although Shakey is obviously the man to beat as once again he has shown in only a few laps he can be well up to speed. Last year this was one of my worst tracks to ride, but I am comfortable this year and well on the pace, so I am happy,” added Lowes. Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes, preparing for races in which he hopes to reduce the 20 points deficit he has on the leading duo, set the third best time, barely a tenth of a second ahead of the Lloyds British GB Moto Honda riding Peter Hickman and Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland. Ryiuchi Kiyonari, refreshed from a trip back home to Japan, was second fastest to his team-mate Lowes in the morning session and maintained the pace, setting the sixth best time in the afternoon session which was twice red-flagged as first Martin Jessopp and then Keith Farmer crashed. For more information please visit www.britishsuperbike.com More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha: TOUGH START FOR MILWAUKEE YAMAHA AT KNOCKHILL The Milwaukee Yamaha team had a testing start to the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill today with James Ellison and Josh Waters ending the opening two free practice sessions in sixteenth and twentieth respectively. The sessions took place in dry condition and both Ellison and Waters continued to push for improvement throughout free practice sessions, but the 1.27-mile circuit proved to be a challenge with the Milwaukee Yamaha team now looking to making big steps forward tomorrow. Ellison said: “We have obviously had a few problems today; they are little things here and there which at this track make the difference. At the other circuits we have been able to roll straight out and be somewhere closer to where we need to be, but today that just hasn’t happened. I have been really struggling for feel and also been rushing into the corners and then running out of room which has cost me time. I usually carry a lot of corner speed and so maybe we need to try something a bit different tomorrow. We have made some good changes throughout the day though and we know what we need to focus on to make improvements.” Waters said: “It has been a really tough day today; I knew this would be a track where the smallest areas make a big difference, but this is not where we need to be. We have made some changes but at the moment we are still looking through the data to see where we can make the big steps forward we need for tomorrow and qualifying. The team will work hard together I am sure and we will see what we can come up with to try and turn this around tomorrow.” For more information visit www.milwaukeeyamaha.com