Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was the fastest rider in the second MCE British Superbike session at Oulton Park this afternoon, and was only one six-hundredths of a second off the lap record set by Ryuichi Kiyonari back in 2006, after a 1'35.497.
Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton did give Brookes a run for his money and did top the timing screens with minutes remaining – after a 1’35.733, only for Brookes to go three tenths quicker.
Easton's team-mate Shane Byrne experienced an electronics issue, which put a premature end to his final session of the day, but did finish third fastest, followed by GBmoto’s James Ellison and Anvil Hire Tag’s Richard Cooper who completed the top five with a 1’36.305.
Initially with 30 minutes remaining Byrne was the quickest rider with a 1’36.300 but after seven laps stopped with a technical problem at Hizzys, with Ellison second fastest with 1’36.305, followed by Brookes. A few second later Easton went two tenths of a second faster than the Milwaukee Yamaha rider to go third on the timing screens.
FFX Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson fell at Shell, but was declared OK at the trackside with just over 20 minutes left to the second free practice session. But smack bang on the 20 minute mark Mitchell Carr crashed at Lakeside, and was taken to the medical centre. Debris from the crash ended up on track and the red flag came swiftly out.
At the re-start Brookes put in the fastest lap of the day so far – a 1’36.095 to go top of the time-sheets, edging Byrne into second. The Aussie rider continued to improve and set a 1’35.865, continuing his reign as the fastest rider on track.
Easton was not giving up yet and out-paced his Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s team-mate with eight minutes to go in the final session of the day to go second, pushing Byrne down to third after a 1’36.076. Then Easton clocked a 1’35.733 to go top, but a mere three seconds later Brookes put in a 1’35.497 to re-gain his place as the fastest rider today.
When the chequered flag appeared Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari, Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell and Kiyo’s team-mate James Westmoreland rounded off the top ten.
Hutchinson and Carr were not the only rider’s to crash – Halsall’s Harry Hartley fell at Island but was uninjured. Walker experienced a technical issue at Island ending his session with two minutes to spare ending the day seventh fastest.
