Millsport Ducati’s Jakub Smrz topped the final MCE British Superbike free practice at Brands Hatch this morning on a track that was slowly drying out after last night’s brace of thunderstorms.
The Czech Republic rider’s last lap of 1’29.247 saw him jump to the top of the timesheets, deposing Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari by almost two seconds on his 11th lap. The Japanese rider also put in a fast lap with only minutes of the session remaining but only did six laps.
Housewives' favourite Chris Walker was third further back, just ahead of Gbmoto Kawasaki team-mate James Ellison, who has some different bell-mouths on his ZX-10R this weekend to improve top-end power at the Kent circuit.
PR Kawasaki’s Keith Farmer, who topped the session early on, dropped down to fifth, just ahead of Richard Cooper on another Kawasaki, this time in TAG Anvil colours while yesterday’s fastest man Josh Brookes was in seventh.
Jon Kirkham made a fist of the conditions in eighth, just ahead of Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins in ninth and Tommy Bridewell rounding out the top ten.
Series leader Shane Byrne was the fastest man early on with a 1'39.763 but only did four laps and that was his quickest. He ended the session down in 23rd place. Ten riders, including Byrne, didn't make the 107.5 per cent qualifying cut off but in the mixed conditions, none of them will be particularly concerned.
