Samsung Honda's Michael Laverty has topped the official MCE British Superbike test timesheets at Brands Hatch this afternoon, sneaking ahead of WFR Honda's Alex Lowes with his final lap of the 45-minute session.
The Irishman was less than a tenth ahead of Lowes, lapping in 46.234 with the Linconshire rider on a 46.308 but they are still some way off Gregorio Lavilla's lap record of 45.460, set back when all this was fields on a set of very sticky Dunlops.
Tyco Suzuki's Josh Brookes was third quickest on a 46.337 with Ian Lowry, on the Padgetts Honda fourth. The young Irishman is trying some new suspension setting this weekend and it seems to be having an effect. Graeme Gowland, on the second WFR Fireblade, took fifth place with reigning champion Tommy Hill sixth and three-tenths in arrears.
Showdown contender Shane Byrne put his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki in seventh with the Supersonic BMW pairing of Tommy Bridewell and Patric Muff behind him. Noriyuki Haga rounds out the top ten.
Karl Harris didn't have the best of starts in his return to BSB, falling off the Quattro Kawasaki at Paddock Hill. He was unhurt.
