Superpole
Luke Mossey - 1’25.383
Shane Byrne - 1’25.494
Tommy Bridewell - 1’25.707
Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey lapped a quick 1’25.383 to start the opening MCE British Superbike race at Brands Hatch on pole, after a successful Superpole session.
The youngster was blighted by a technical issue with his throttle on his ZX-10R during Q2, but overcame any problems to bag the number one spot on the starting grid. Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne has been on the pace throughout the entire weekend so far, but he was unable to replicate his record-breaking fast lap from the earlier free practice session and a 1’25.494 was good enough to make it on to the front row and P2.
Bennetts Suzuki’s Tommy Bridewell completes row one after his 1’25.707 rotation to make it a Kawasaki, Ducati and Suzuki top three. ePayMe Yamaha’s Broc Parkes looked very comfortable onboard his R1, and it showed as he heads row two after missing out on the front row by 0.08s.
The likeable Aussie is joined by Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin and the only JG Speedfit Kawasaki bike to make it into Superpole session, which belonged to Leon Haslam.
It is a Buildbase BMW third row, with Lee Jackson going only 0.003 seconds faster than his garage mate, Richard Cooper. Elsewhere while he was on a hot lap Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran crashed at Stirlings and low sided, meaning he missed out on a front row start and will begin race one on Sunday from ninth on the grid.
Qualifying two
Shane Byrne - 1’25.052
Jason O’Halloran - 1’25.327
Glenn Irwin - 1’25.328
Once again it was Byrne who set the pace, with O’Halloran three tenths behind. Rookie Glenn Irwin had a solid outing at went P3 with a 1’25.328.
Q2 was red flagged with eight minutes remaining, as Smiths Racing’s Jakub Smrz’s BMW came to a halt after the engine went bang. Meanwhile Dan Linfoot crashed at Druids, and was declared OK at the trackside. But his Fireblade was still in the garage when the chequered flag came out, meaning he missed out on a place in Superpole and will start race one from P16.
Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey experienced a technical problem coming out of Sheene Curve, but was able to make it to Superpole with time to spare. Leon Haslam was the only JG Speedfit Kawasaki bike to make it into the final qualifying outing, with James Ellison missing out on a spot in the top nine by 0.039s.
Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty was unable to replicate his successful Q1 last lap dash and will start from the fourth row of the grid in race one, alongside Peter Hickman, with the Wales-based rider being in the centre of a GBmoto sandwich on the starting grid for the opening race tomorrow.
His team-mate, Christian Iddon also failed to make it out of the drop zone, alongside Moto Rapido Ducati’s Danny Buchan. The tall Essex rider crashed when the chequered flag appeared at Surtees, and walked away from the incident.
John Hopkins, who made his return from injury at this Brands Hatch round was unable to emulate his new garage buddy, Broc Parkes to make it into Superpole. But after a brave effort made it to fifteenth on the timing-screens.
Eliminated
Ellison
Laverty
Hickman
Iddon
Buchan
Hopkins
Linfoot
Smrz
Qualifying one
Shane Byrne - 1’25.097
Jason O’Halloran - 1’25.526
Tommy Bridewell - 1’25.630
Byrne was the quickest in the opening qualifying outing with a 1’25.097, with O’Halloran and Bridewell completing the provisional front row.
It was a close call for Laverty, who left his best lap until last. The Northern Irishman was dwelling inside the drop zone, and looked like he would not get out of Q1. But he was able to push his way to P12 and into safety.
Hickman was only 0.001 seconds away from the elimination spots, but Jake Dixon was not so lucky and found himself outside the top nineteen on the timing screens. The local rider was joined by his team-mate Seeley, Jackson, McConnell and Kiyonari.
Rispoli crashed at Westfield whilst outside the top twenty with ten minutes remaining, but he walked away from the incident and his time was good enough to progress into Q2.
Eliminated
Dixon
Kennedy
McConnell
Kiyonari
Jessopp
Wainright
Backlund
Zanotti
Tinmouth
Hook
Iannuzzo