Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes edged Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne to head the final MCE British Superbike free practice session at the Snetterton after a 1’48.280 was enough to place his machine on the provisional front row.
But the Northern Ireland based rider could not go quicker than the best lap set by Byrne during the second free practice outing, in the much sunnier climates of yesterday, and was one tenth off the time of the triple champ.
Byrne clocked a 1’48.430 to place him second, in much colder track conditions, with Millsport Ducati’s Jakub Smrz and Honda Racing’s development rider, Julien Da Costa slipping to fourth. Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell set a 1’48.905, going fifth fastest this morning.
Smrz was the first rider to top the timing-screens after five minutes with a 1’50.170, but that was to last mere seconds as Brookes and Da Costa went four tenths faster – with the Frenchman placing his Honda on the provisional pole spot.
Bridewell came from tenth on the timesheets to the very top for the first time this weekend – with a 1’49.596 on the ten minute mark – just as drops of rain started to fall in all sectors. With 22 minutes remaining on the clock Brookes pulled back a few thousandths to go back to second on the timesheets after a 1’49.597.
But the Aussie was not hanging around and went two tenths quicker than his team-mate to go fastest after a 1’49.345 rotation, followed by Da Costa with 18 minutes remaining. Byrne was loitering in sixth on the timing-screens until there was only 15 minutes left – and a 1’48.510 was enough to lead the pack, demoting Brookes and Bridewell to second and third.
But Brookes went three tenths quicker just as the chequered flag came out, followed by Byrne, Da Costa and Smrz, with Bridewell completing the top five.
But the black and orange flag appeared as GBmoto’s Chris Walker’s bike had smoke coming out of his Kawasaki while he was in seventh. But the veteran racer ended the outing in eighth, with Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins and Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Richard Cooper rounding off the top ten.
