MCE British Superbike Championship
Silverstone Circuit, Towcester, England
October 2, 2015
Free Practice Two Results (all on Pirelli tires):
1. Michael Laverty, UK (BMW), 2:05.370
2. Josh Brookes, Australia (Yamaha), 2:05.444
3. James Ellison, UK (Kawasaki), 2:05.843
4. John Hopkins, USA (Ducati), 2:05.846
5. Shane Byrne, UK (Kawasaki), 2:05.903
6. Luke Mossey, UK (Kawasaki), 2:06.029
7. Jakub Smrz, Czech Republic (Yamaha), 2:06.168
8. Danny Buchan, UK (Kawasaki), 2:06.328
9. Dan Linfoot, UK (Honda), 2:06.471
10. Christian Iddon, UK (Suzuki), 2:06.752
11. Josh Waters, Australia (Suzuki), 2:06.770
12. Peter Hickman, UK (BMW), 2:06.776
13. Howie Mainwaring Smart, UK (Kawasaki), 2:06.939
14. Julien Da Costa, France (Honda), 2:06.959
15. Tommy Bridewell, UK (BMW), 2:07.081
16. Lee Jackson, UK (BMW), 2:07.130
17. Billy McConnell, Australia (BMW), 2:07.185
18. Richard Cooper, UK (BMW), 2:07.399
19. Martin Jessopp, UK (BMW), 2:08.040
20. Luke Stapleford, UK (Kawasaki), 2:08.095
21. Robbin Harms, Denmark (Kawasaki), 2:08.355
22. Jack Kennedy, Ireland (Kawasaki), 2:08.439
23. Filip Backlund, Sweden (Kawasaki), 2:08.739
24. Jed Metcher, Australia (Kawasaki), 2:08.897
25. Ryuichi Kiyonari, Japan (BMW), 2:09.077
26. John Ingram, UK (Kawasaki), 2:09.314
27. Taylor Mackenzie, UK (Kawasaki), 2:10.074
28. Shaun Winfield, UK (Kawasaki), 2:10.717
29. Aaron Zanotti, UK (Yamaha), 2:10.908
30. Jenny Tinmouth, UK (Honda), 2:12.583
31. Rhalf Lo Turco, Brazil (Kawasaki), 2:16.422
More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision Racing:
Laverty leads the magnificent seven under the Silverstone lap record
Results
Free Practice one:
1: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) 2m:06.259s
2: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.172s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.264s
4: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.643s
5: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +1.069s
6: Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +1.374s
Free Practice two:
1: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 2:05.370s
2: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.074s
3: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) + 0.473s
4: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.476s
5: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.533s
6: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Tec-care Kawasaki) +0.659s
Report
Michael Laverty proved he is ready to come out fighting for the penultimate round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Silverstone, firing his Tyco BMW inside the existing lap record as he fought off the determined challenges of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship leader Josh Brookes by just 0.074 seconds.
The top seven riders on the time sheet had blasted to times within the circuit lap record with a top ten that featured six different manufacturers.
Laverty scored his first podium finish of the season at the opening Showdown round of Assen last time out and admits he is ready to take the fight to his Australian rival in Sunday’s two races to maintain his outside hopes of taking the title.
James Ellison who currently holds third in the title standings was narrowly adrift of Laverty and Brookes in third place on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, just holding off former MotoGP rider John Hopkins by 0.003s. The American contender had set the pace in the morning session aboard the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati.
Their pace pushed the defending four-time champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne back into fifth place on the time-sheets aboard his PBM Kawasaki as he prepares to strike back and bid for victory on Sunday to try and close the 28 points deficit he has on arch rival Brookes in his ‘strive for five’ titles.
Rookie Luke Mossey on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki set the sixth best time ahead of Jakub Smrz aboard the second Milwaukee Yamaha. Danny Buchan, making his debut for the PBM Kawasaki team pushed ahead of Honda Racing’s title outsider Dan Linfoot whilst Bennetts Suzuki rider Christian Iddon completed the top ten, five places ahead of Tyco BMW’s Title Fighter Tommy Bridewell.
For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha)
Championship leader: 553 points
Friday free practice position: 2nd
“This morning was difficult because the track temperature was so low and we damaged the soft tyre really quickly. This afternoon was a lot better but I think mostly the track temperature was much higher and that made the difference. I rode half the afternoon session on the SC0 and then changed to the SC1 and I did my fastest lap time on the SC1. I was not surprised as the bike is improving as we are setting it for this circuit. But I don’t think the future is in the SC1 as I think we need to persevere with the SC0 and get it to last longer.
“I think all we have done is seen the threshold quicker today. I think we all have arrived at the point probably quicker as the track was in pretty good condition this afternoon, and the sun was on it and the warm temperatures – and that is why we jumped into the [fast] lap times fairly quickly.”
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki)
Second in the standings: 551
Friday free practice position: 5th
“Today has been a pretty good day – I really enjoy this circuit and always have as it is good fun to ride. We made a bit of progress this afternoon and that has given us a clear direction for tomorrow and I am feeling optimistic.
“I feel we can close again as this is a circuit where you can make changes and improve a chunk at a time. I can’t wait to get back out tomorrow now!”
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW)
Fourth in the standings: 523
Friday free practice position: 1st
“It has been a good day here and I feel we can go for the wins on Sunday. We have a taken a big step in our performance and now instead of looking for podiums we can go for the top spot.
“I knew that we had this pace in us after the previous round at Assen where our confidence with a first race podium was given a massive boost. We had some new parts there and have got them dialled in so we were able to stick in a good lap and to get ahead of Josh this early is a really good feeling.
“We have the pace and I think we can take the fight to Brookesy this weekend, which is a bit of a statement considering how easy he has had it lately. He can top a session and win a race at will, but this weekend I kind of believed I would have something for him and after today I know I will have. It’s nice to be aiming for the top step for the first time this year and I really want that to become a reality on Sunday on the Tyco BMW.”
More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:
BROOKES AND SMRZ UNDER LAP RECORD PACE AT SILVERSTONE
The Milwaukee Yamaha team had a lightening start to the penultimate round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Silverstone today with both Josh Brookes and Jakub Smrz setting a pace under the existing lap record.
Brookes had been battling for the top spot on the timesheets but narrowly missed out by 0.074s as he continued working through various setting changes to be in a position ready for Sunday’s races where he will fight to extend his 28 point lead in the standings.
Smrz also had a positive opening day at Silverstone, his fastest lap was just 0.798s adrift of the pace-setting time of the day and the Czech contender is getting stronger with every lap on the Milwaukee Yamaha in only his second weekend with the team.
Josh Brookes
“This morning was difficult because the track temperature was so low and we damaged the soft tyre really quickly. This afternoon was a lot better but I think mostly the track temperature was much higher and that made the difference. I rode half the afternoon session on the SC0 and then changed to the SC1 and I did my fastest lap time on the SC1. I was not surprised as the bike is improving as we are setting it for this circuit. But I don’t think the future is in the SC1 as I think we need to persevere with the SC0 and get it to last longer.
“I think all we have done is seen the threshold quicker today. I think we all have arrived at the point probably quicker as the track was in pretty good condition this afternoon, and the sun was on it and the warm temperatures – and that is why we jumped into the [fast] lap times fairly quickly.”
Jakub Smrz
“It was a really good day – we tried something a bit different to Assen in the first session and got some information from it and based on that we made two changes for FP2 and the bike felt different, really good. It was the best setting that I have had with this bike. I did a lot of laps but still have to change my riding style. It is going well for us, a good job so far and I am happy today.”