Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes held off the charges of Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari and Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne to set the fastest time of the MCE British Superbike weekend at Oulton Park - a 1’35.878.
Brookes was four tenths off lap record place and certainty made up for lost time, after a crash in the opening session meant he missed out on precious track time. The triple champ contingent of Kiyo and Byrne were a tenth off the best lap of Brookes at the flag.
At first it was Byrne who was the first rider to set a time good enough to head the timesheets, with Kiyonari and Walker never far off his pace. But the fastest racer in the first free practice, Kiyo lapped a 1’36.738 after just 15 minutes to demote Byrne to second.
But Byrne was not going to be bowled over that easily, and went a tenth faster to regain his place at the top of the sheets, then Kiyo came straight back, edging ahead of the Lambeth born rider to go even quicker.
Brookes and his bike had recovered from his previous crash in FP1 and he was soon up the sharp end, and matching the pace of Kiyonari and Brookes. With 25 minutes remaining he lapped a 1’36.435 to place him second on the timing-screens.
Buildbase BMW’s stand-in rider Lee Jackson was inside the top ten but took a tumble at Island, but was declared OK at the track side. Meanwhile Brookes set a 1’36.033 to go quickest.
When the chequered flag appeared it was Brookes who stayed on top after a fast last lap dash, with Kiyonari and Byrne completing the top three. Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot out-paced the GBmoto backed Kawasaki of Chris Walker and Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins to go fourth overall.
Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell, RAF Reserves Honda’s Peter Hickman, Halsall Racing’s Jon Kirkham and Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Waters completed the top ten. Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s substitute team of Glen Richards and Scott Smart ended the afternoon in 20th and 22nd respectively.
