Kiyonari Tops British Superbike Free Practice Two At Donington Park

Kiyonari Tops British Superbike Free Practice Two At Donington Park

© 2015, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MCE British Superbike Championship

Donington Park, England

April 4, 2015

Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.106

2. Shane Byrne, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.116

3.  James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.181

4. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.350

5. Christian Iddon, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:30.543

6. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 1:30.710

7. Stuart Easton, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.748

8. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.800

9. James Westmoreland, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:30.810

10. Broc Parkes, Australia (Yam YZF-R1), 1:30.944

11. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.976

12. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:30.990

13. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.018

14. Tommy Bridewell, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.136

15. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:31.195

16. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.251

17. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:31.492

18. Victor Cox, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.558

19. Josh Waters, Australia (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:31.655

20. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.655

21. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.661

22. Robbin Harms, Denmark (BMW S1000RR), 1:31.693

23. Richard Cooper, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:31.749

24. Chris Walker, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.052

25. Joe Burns, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.235

26. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:32.259

27. Ian Hutchinson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.279

28. Daniel Johnson, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.458

29. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.494

30. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:32.580

31. David Johnson, Australia (BMW S1000RR), 1:33.352

32. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:34.975

33. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:35.218

34. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:35.443

35. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), no time recorded

36. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Ducati Panigale R), no time recorded 

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Kiyonari crashes out but holds off Byrne in season-opening free practice

Results

Free practice one:

1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 1m:30.385s

2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.033s

3: Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +0.865s

4: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.906s

5: Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.921s

6: Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +1.250s

Free practice two:

1: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 1m 30.106s

2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.010s

3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.075s

4: Billy McConnell (Smiths BMW) +0.169s

5: Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) + 0.437

6: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.604s

Report

Ryuichi Kiyonari returns for his attack on a fourth MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title and kicked off the season by setting the free practice pace at Donington Park ahead of the Easter Monday opening round.

Record-breaking four-time champion Shane Byrne, despite hand and ankle injuries sustained in a testing crash last month, mounted a late challenge in the afternoon, closing his PBM Kawasaki to within 0.010s of Kiyonari.

The Japanese rider however held on to top spot on the leaderboard despite crashing late on in the second session at Coppice Corner, moments after setting his fastest lap of the day, 1m 30.106s, around the Leicestershire circuit.

James Ellison is well placed to challenge them having set the third fastest time of the day on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki while Aussie Billy McConnell, the winner of the Motorpoint British Supersport crown last season, rode strongly on the Smiths BMW, on his return to the top flight.

Christian Iddon, defying a bout of gastro-enteritis, was closing McConnell down, but had to settle for fifth fastest on his debut with the Bennetts Suzuki team, just edging ahead of Josh Brookes, whose Milwaukee Yamaha team-mate Broc Parkes completed the top ten.

Sandwiched between them were Flying Scot Stuart Easton on the second PBM Kawasaki, Howie Mainwaring riding the Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki and James Westmoreland on the second JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Tommy Bridewell was another faller in the session, he tipped off the Tyco BMW at Redgate unhurt, to end the day 14th.

Ryuichi Kiyonari, P1 in free practice:

“Lap by lap the feeling with this new bike was getting better, the feeling is different, but we understand it. Towards the end of the session I was trying something different with speed and braking and I was too fast into the corner. It was a mistake, but I have good speed.”

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

Round 1: Donington Park

Positive start to Donington Park opener for Milwaukee Yamaha

The Milwaukee Yamaha team had a positive start to the opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Donington Park as Josh Brookes and Broc Parkes prepare for their first race onboard the new generation R1.

The pair continued moving forward following their winter preparations at the recent test and after the opening two free practice sessions at the Leicestershire circuit, both riders were feeling confident of the initial steps made again today. Brookes and Parkes ended the opening day in sixth and tenth respectively.

Josh Brookes, 6th, 1m:30.71s

“I was a bit surprised to be second this morning because the bike is still a long way from where it can be in its current form. We are expecting the bike to get better as the year goes on as it is a new, I didn’t feel I was trying too hard and it wasn’t behaving perfectly.

“This afternoon for the greater good we have made changes, which weren’t good for this afternoon’s timing sheet but the idea is to work out where we can improve and move forward. It has to be tried to see the effect and ultimately to go quicker you have to try polar extremes to see what difference it makes and then use the information.

“In a way we sacrificed a session this afternoon, but we have tried left and right of where we are to improve. Now we have to fine tune and leave options to adjust ready for qualifying. It’s not dramatic; we have just been trying different things. It felt like doing homework today but it was a valuable and will put us in a better position for tomorrow.”

Broc Parkes, 10th, 1m:30.944s

“I am pretty happy with things today. The bike felt better, but we will keep chipping away with it. I feel like now, when I have to put it on the line I am more comfortable to give that bit extra. After the test session here last week we discussed a plan to move forwards and we have worked much better and I have felt more comfortable straight away with the improvements we have made. We have not had to push for it today – I knew that I was little cautious in the morning but now we will be ready to roll for qualifying tomorrow so we are in the best position we can be for the races on Monday.”

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