Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes left it until his final lap to pip PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne to the post in the final timed MCE British Superbike free practice session at Assen.
Heavy rain overnight meant that the track was still damp but a dry line did emerge, but it meant that all the riders were way off their best times set yesterday. Brookes was two seconds slower this morning, but still managed to put down a 1’39.318, compared to Byrne’s 1’39.571.
But it is Brookes who remains top of the combined timesheets after his super fast 1’37.072, which was under lap record pace in the second free practice session on Friday, with Mossey and Iddon rounding up the overall top three.
But this morning it was Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper who completed the top three on the timing-screens, and was six tenths off lapping inside the 1’39’s. Moto Rapido Ducati’s John Hopkins overcame his technical difficulties from yesterday and managed to get some laps under his belt. At the end of the 45 minute outing the former MotoGP man lapped a 1’41.103 to go P4.
Milwaukee Yamaha’s newest recruit for this Dutch round, Jakub Smrz is still getting accustomed to the R1 and ended the final free practice in a respectable fifth on the FP3 timesheets with a 1’41.300.
Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot was the third fastest out of the title fighters, and was sixth fastest in FP3, with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison, and Tyco BMW team-mate Michael Laverty and Tommy Bridewell ending the morning in ninth, tenth and eleventh respectively.
PBM Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton is still nursing injuries sustained from crashes at Brands and Oulton, he completed a handful of laps on Friday, but didn’t venture out this morning.
Some BSB regulars are missing from this weekend’s proceedings; including Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari who is recovering from a flat-track injury. Yesterday James Westmoreland parted company with his JG Speedfit Kawasaki team after crashing twice in FP1 and did not take part today.
