Qualifying three
Jason O’Halloran - 2’04.811
Jake Dixon – 2’04.988
James Ellison – 2’05.030
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran went under lap record pace to secure pole position, for the opening MCE British Superbike race at Silverstone this afternoon.
The Australian is hoping to secure his spot in the showdown this weekend, and lapped a 2’04.811 to go four tenths under the lap record. The Fireblade rider will be joined on the front row by RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon.
The young-gun was only a tenth off the pole lap of O’Halloran, with McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison completing row one. Ellison still holds the lap record at the track and did look on course to snatch pole away from O’Halloran, but the Honda rider had the edge in sunny conditions.
Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was the fastest rider in the final free practice session this morning, and threw down the gauntlet to his other competitors. He was only 0.2s off a sub 2’05 time, with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam and former World Superbike champ, Sylvain Guintoli joining the Bringelly rider on the second row of the BSB grid.
Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman attempted a last lap dash, but it failed to materialise and he was unable to improve on his 2’05.940 time. It was not a good session for Moto Rapido Ducati’s John Hopkins.
The American lost the front going into the loop and did not put down a lap time. Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin never made it out of his garage. He suffered an oil pressure issue and had to sit out the session. He rounds off row three.
Qualifying two
James Ellison – 2’04.980
Jason O’Halloran – 2’05.100
Jake Dixon – 2’05.256
The big news in the second qualifying session was that Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne did not set a time fast enough to make it into the final qualifying outing to be in with a chance to fight for pole position.
Byrne lapped a 2’05.651, compared to pace-setter Ellison who set a 2’04.980. The multiple champ will start race one from the fourth row. JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey made a return from injury at Silverstone after missing the last round at Cadwell Park. The youngster is still in showdown contention and will start race one from 13th on the grid.
Joining Byrne and Mossey in the drop zone was Ray, Mackenzie, Iddon, Laverty, Bridewell and Smrz. Luke Stapleford is riding in place of the crocked Billy McConnell in the FS-3 Racing team and he made it all the way to Q2, but unfortunately not quick enough to progress into the final qualifying session.
Eliminated
Byrne
Ray
Mackenzie
Mossey
Iddon
Laverty
Bridewell
Smrz
Stapleford
Qualifying one
James Ellison – 2’05.379
Jason O’Halloran – 2’05.569
Josh Brookes – 2’05.808
Ellison was the quickest rider in the first qualifying session under blue skies at Silverstone followed by fellow Showdown hopefuls, O’Halloran and Brookes. Ellison’s team-mate Michael Laverty was dangerously close of not making it to the Q2 but managed to hang on.
Westmoreland was not so lucky and got pushed put by Stapleford who lapped a time good enough to go P17 ahead of the second qualifying outing. Eliminated with the Gearlink Kawasaki rider is Jessopp, Jackson, Reid, Winfield, Zanotti and rookie rider, Dean Harrison.
It has not been the best of weekend’s for Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot. He crashed in the earlier free practice session at Farm. His team were in a race against time to get his Fireblade ready for qualifying. The
Northerner went out and took a bit of skin off his elbow from the FP3 incident and ended the session 23rd fastest.
Eliminated
Westmoreland
Jessopp
Jackson
Reid
Linfoot
Winfield
Zanotti
Harrison
