Smith Triumph’s Graeme Gowland was under lap record pace, by six tenths of a second during the final Motorpoint British Supersport free practice session at Assen this afternoon. The rider lapped an impressive 1’39.767, and blasted away the competition from Techcare’s Luke Mossey, and Gowland's Aussie team-mate, Billy McConnell.
Neither racer was able to reach the 1’39’s and were 0.6 seconds off the pace of Gowland, with Mossey’s best lap of a 1’40.382, good enough to place him second on the timesheets. McConnell was three tenths off Mossey’s best lap, and the likeable rider had to settle for third fastest at the flag after a 1’40.638.
Stapleford was on course for a fast hot lap, but had a technical problem at Ruskenhoek. Meanwhile in the opening half of the session it was Mossey and Gowland who were setting the pace, only for the Geordie to go three tenths quicker with a 1’40.670 after ten minutes.
Not to be out done by his Smith Triumph’s team-mate, McConnell paced on head of Gowland and Mossey, to go quickest with a 1’40.638, with only ten minutes of track time available. But Gowland clocked an impressive 1’39.767, to go six tenths under lap record pace to blow the rest of the field away, and was the first rider to lap inside the 1’39s, after a handful of minutes left to FP2.
MarTrain Yamaha’s Alastair Seeley couldn’t manage to reach the pace of Gowland and ended up crashing at Geert Timmer, but was unhurt. But the wee wizard of Carrickfergus still managed to end the session fourth quickest after a 1’40.748. Fellow Northern Irishman, Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin completed the top five.
Team Traction Control’s James Rispoli was making his way into the top ten but crashed at Duikersloot, but was declared OK at the track side with 13 minutes remaining to the session. Pirelli National Superstock 600 regular Kyle Ryde rounded up the top ten.
In the opening Supersport free practice outing it was Seeley who set the fastest time at the Cathedral of Speed, with a 1’40.167, followed by Gowland and Stapleford, with only two tenths separating the leading trio of bikes.
