MCE British Superbike Championship

Cadwell Park, England

August 28, 2016

Qualifying Results (all on Pirelli tires):

From Qualifying Knockout Session Three:

1. Leon Haslam, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:25.923

2. Shane Byrne, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:26.159

3. Richard Cooper, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:26.162

4. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:26.209

5. Jason O’Halloran, Australia (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:26.373

6. Luke Mossey, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.382

7. Tommy Bridewell, UK (Suz GSX-R1000), 1:26.417

8. James Ellison, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.633

9. Dan Linfoot, UK (Hon CBR1000RR SP), 1:26.677

From Qualifying Knockout Session Two:

10. Peter Hickman, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:26.984

11. Glenn Irwin, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:27.035

12. Jake Dixon, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.040

13. Christian Iddon, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.043

14. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.129

15. John Hopkins, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:27.328

16. Danny Buchan, UK (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:27.401

17. Alastair Seeley, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:27.963

18. Billy McConnell, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), no time recorded in Qualifying Two

From Qualifying Knockout Session One:

19. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:28.163

20. James Rispoli, USA (Yam YZF-R1), 1:28.413

21. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (BMW S1000RR), 1:28.611

22. Stuart Easton, UK (Duc Panigale R), 1:28.926

23. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:29.042

24. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.239

25. Josh Hook, Australia (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.283

26. Josh Wainwright, UK (BMW S1000RR), 1:29.539

27. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:29.677

28. Vittorio Iannuzzo, Italy (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.922

29. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kaw ZX-10R), 1:29.991

30. Shaun Winfield, UK (Yam YZF-R1), 1:30.052

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing;

Haslam sets fastest ever lap of Cadwell Park to claim pole position

Leon Haslam delivered an inch perfect lap to claim pole position in Datatag Qualifying for tomorrow’s opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Park, lapping under his own existing lap record from 2007.

An intense qualifying session first saw Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon crash out unhurt in Q2 at Mansfield to end his run prematurely, which puts him 13th on the grid for race one. He wasn’t the only rider to slide out of the action as Dan Linfoot was narrowly holding ninth before a crash at the Mountain. The Honda Racing rider was luckily able to still make the cut for Q3 and the team rapidly made the changes to get him back out in the final session to qualify ninth.

Buildbase BMW’s Lee Jackson was the first to complete a flying lap, putting the Buildbase BMW at the top of the times, but just a few minutes later his team-mate Richard Cooper forged ahead.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was on a charge, but the Be Wiser Ducati rider couldn’t quite better Cooper’s time initially and moved into second place. It wasn’t long before Haslam moved ahead, pushing Byrne back to third with Cooper still holding the top spot.

There was just 0.003s between Cooper and Haslam, but the ‘Pocket Rocket’ was on his final run and in the last minute he set the fastest ever lap of the Lincolnshire circuit to go to the top of the times. Byrne’s final lap put him second, just ahead of Cooper who completes the front row.

Jackson was pushed back onto row two in the final seconds ahead of Jason O’Halloran on the leading Honda Racing Fireblade and Luke Mossey on the Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki.

Tommy Bridewell’s last lap push saw him move up to seventh ahead of James Ellison and Linfoot, with the top nine covered by just 0.754s ahead of tomorrow’s opening race!

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Cadwell Park, Datatag Qualifying:

1. Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 1m:25.923s

2. Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.236s

3. Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +0.239s

4. Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +0.286s

5. Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.450s

6. Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +0.459s

7. Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.494s

8. James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.710s

9. Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.754s

For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki)

Fastest in free practice

“That lap time I wouldn’t have thought would have been possible when we started free practice as we had a bit of a disastrous first day but we kept chipping away and focusing on race distance. The cooler conditions definitely threw a spanner in the works with tyre life but now it looks like it has come back into our hands.

“I was so happy when I saw the time as my times on my dash didn’t work that time so I saw 26.1s and then made a couple of mistakes, but the lap time didn’t show so I wasn’t sure where I was so to have pole is great and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki team have done an awesome job.”

More, from a press release issued by JG Speedfit Kawasaki:

JG SPEEDFIT KAWASAKI BACK ON POLE AS HASLAM SETS FASTEST EVER CADWELL LAP!

28th August 2016 – The JG Speedfit Kawasaki team ensured a flying start for tomorrow’s opening MCE British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Park, as Leon Haslam claimed his third pole of the season after setting the fastest ever lap of the Lincolnshire circuit. James Ellison was able to secure eighth place on the grid whilst Peter Hickman will start from tenth.

Having enjoyed a successful test at the Cadwell Park circuit last week, the JG Speedfit team were confident of a strong showing this weekend. Chipping away with every practice, the trio finished with Leon second on combined times, James eighth and Peter eleventh.

With the sun shining and temperatures increasing ahead of qualifying, the thousands of fans packing the banking were treated to a scintillating show. All three riders were able to move comfortably through the opening session, and two laps from Leon and James under the existing lap record saw them move through to the final session. Narrowly missing out on progressing through to the final session by just 0.069s, Peter will start tomorrow’s opening race from tenth.

With just a short eight minute sprint to fight for pole, both JG Speedfit Kawasaki riders came out the blocks fighting. Setting a stunning 1:25.923 lap on his third circulation, Leon claimed his third pole of the season in dominating fashion, finishing 0.236s ahead of Championship rival Byrne. Making some slight changes ahead of the session, James was unable to quite match his pace from Q2 and will start from eighth place on the grid – despite lapping under the lap record again.

Surprised to have set a sub 1m26s lap, Leon Haslam said “From the get-go we’ve been a little on the back foot this weekend – particularly compared to Shakey who has been fast straight out the box. The big crash yesterday certainly didn’t help us either! Today though the boys have been absolutely fantastic though and the bike has been mega. We’ve made some really good steps and I wasn’t expecting to be lapping with a sub 1m26! It’s brilliant to be back on pole, Cadwell isn’t the easiest place to pass so we’ve given ourselves a really strong chance for tomorrow!”

Setting his personal best lap of Cadwell Park, James Ellison is feeling confident ahead of tomorrow’s two races “It’s been a great weekend, we’ve steadily progressed with every lap and I’ve been able to lap Cadwell Park faster than I ever have! The pace is unbelievable, and despite lapping under the record we’re still starting from eighth – we made a slight change ahead of Q3 but it just didn’t work quite how we wanted and although I was able to match my time from Q2 I couldn’t take the next step the rest of the guys did. Our race pace is strong though and I know with a good start tomorrow we can have a couple of great races and get our Showdown position back on track!”

Disappointed not to progress through to the final session Peter Hickman added “It’s been a tough weekend actually, I just can’t seem to get the lap time I want. It’s taken until qualifying to actually lap faster than I did in testing here last week but I was able to set my personal best around Cadwell Park but the pace is so fast it just wasn’t enough to get through to Q3. The bike is feeling good though and we’ve got some things to try – I’ve always been more of a racer than a qualifier though so I think we can still have two good races tomorrow.”

GBmoto Racing Team Manager Terry Rymer concluded, “The guys put a lot of hard work into the test last week and it’s definitely paid off so far. It meant we could hit the ground running from first practice and we’ve seen with every session the guys are just going faster and faster. The whole team is working really well and for Leon to get pole, by setting the fastest ever lap around Cadwell, is a massive boost for everyone. James and Pete have been brilliant as well, our race pace is strong so I’m very excited to see what tomorrow will bring!”

More, from a press release issued by Be Wiser Ducati:

Front Row Start For Byrne At Cadwell, Irwin On Row Four

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will line up on the front row of the grid for tomorrow’s opening MCE British Superbike Championship race at Cadwell Park after the Be Wiser Ducati rider recorded second Shane Byrnefastest time during this afternoon’s Datatag Extreme Qualifying session at the Lincolnshire venue.

Riding the factory-backed Be Wiser Ducati Panigale R for the Penrith-based PBM team, the four-times champion had topped the overall timesheets after the three Free Practice sessions to give him an advantage of 0.337s over championship rival Leon Haslam.

Lapping underneath the existing lap record put Byrne in a confident mood going into afternoon qualifying and he immediately went third quickest in the opening Q1 session. Going quicker still in Q2, the Sittingbourne rider’s time of 1m 26.320s, on just his third lap, put him in the ideal position going into the final eight minute Q3 session.

There then followed a rapid few minutes of action around the 2.18-mile circuit and the leading times were extremely close as just 0.286s covered the first four riders. It was Haslam who was quickest but on his last lap, Shakey recorded a time of 1m 26.159s to jump from fourth to second and claim the middle spot on the front row of the grid.

Meanwhile, Carrickfergus team-mate Glenn Irwin was 14th overall after the Free Practice sessions, just over a second slower than Byrne but during qualifying, he immediately went quicker in Q1, comfortably making it through to Q2 with the 12th fastest time, and Q2 saw him set his fastest time of the weekend at 1m 27.035s. However, it was only good enough for the 11th fastest time meaning the Ulsterman will start from the middle of the fourth row of the grid for the first 18-lap race tomorrow which comprises round eight of the series.

Shane Byrne: “Cadwell Park is a difficult track, it’s tricky and the most important thing here is to be on the front row. I’ve been changing the bike after each practice session to try and get a better balance and did so again just before Q3. My first lap was OK, the second one a bit better again but after dropping to P4, I regrouped and had one last push on the final lap. It got me onto the front row which is the most important thing. The team have done a great job again and I’m happy with where I’m starting for tomorrow’s first race.”

Glenn Irwin: “It’s been good so far even though I didn’t make it through to Q3. I don’t like to say I have bad tracks but this one’s never been the best to me. I’ve been working hard all weekend and Glenn Irwinalthough I got a tow off Shakey in Q2, I didn’t make a very good job of it. I did laps on my own that were better so that’s a positive to take into the race tomorrow.”

Phil Borley, Technical Director: “It wasn’t a perfect day but it was a very good lap at the end from Shakey, he was very close to getting the pole and he’ll be happy with a front row start. We think we’ve got good tyre life and whilst you can never be over confident, we think he’ll be strong all race distance. Glenn’s improved a lot since day one and having found a small issue this morning, he’s improved his times although he just missed out on Q3, I think his race pace will be fine so we are looking forward to two strong races tomorrow.”

Qualifying Times

1 Leon Haslam (Kawasaki) 1m25.923s

2 Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m26.159s

3 Richard Cooper (BMW) 1m26.162s

4 Lee Jackson (BMW) 1m26.209s

5 Jason O’Halloran (Honda) 1m26.373s

6 Luke Mossey (Kawasaki) 1m26.382s

11 Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m27.035s

For further information, please visit www.pbmuk.net and www.pbmuk.net