Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill has set the fastest lap in today's official Bitish Superbike test on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit but was chased hard by the Graeme Gowland, who was second quickest on his Evo-spec WFR Honda Fireblade with Shane Byrne third.
Riders are using the shirt circuit today as Brands is limited to the number of days it is allowed to use theGP track. Action will be resume there tomorrow with Hill leading and only half a second off the Indy track lap record, set by Gregorio Lavilla.
Hill was the only man to crack the 46s barrier, going round in 45.981 with Gowland just over a tenth slower with a 46.126. Byrne's HM Plant Honda is only 0.010 further back with Michael Laverty, on the `swan Honda, only 0.018 slower on a 46.135.
Relentless Suzuki's Josh Brookes is fifth with a 46.321 while World Superbike regular Joan Lascorz is sixth on a track he has never seen before. Veterans Michael Rutter and Chris Walker seventh and eighth with Gary Mason, on the MSS Kawasaki in tenth and six-tenths in arrears, just behind Martin Jessopp.
Four-times Suzuka Eight-Hours winner Ryuichi Kiyonari was 11th, James Ellison 12th, with the Evo bikes of Barry Burrell and Glen Richards 13th and 14th. Ian Lowry rounds out the top 15. James Hiller crashed at McLaren and was taken to the medical centre but had nothing worse than bruised pods.
