Qualifying three

Shane Byrne 1’47.488

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne was only one-three hundredths shy of the out-right lap record at the Snetterton circuit, after an impressive 1’47.488 puts him firmly on pole for the opening MCE British Superbike race tomorrow.

The triple champ had to fight hard for the front row with Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes with the Northern Ireland based rider also lapping inside the 1’47 bracket but still four tenths off the pace of Byrne. But it is still another front row start for the Aussie  – after a 1’47.974.

The front row is completed by the Millsport Ducati of Jakub Smrz, who was only the third rider to reach the dizzy heights of the 1’47’s. The former World Superbike contender has been there or there a bouts all weekend, and has never been out of the top three. Third on the starting grid was the aim, and the Czech Republic rider did just that, with a 1’47.994.

Honda Racing’s Julien Da Costa heads row two, alongside British riders, Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell and GBmoto Kawasaki’s James Ellison. Bathams Patric Muff was able to get a tow off Brookes that was good enough to place him on the third row. The Swiss rider leads a distinctly BMW row, with both Buildbase riders Ryuichi Kiyonari and James Westmoreland finishing the session in eighth and ninth respectively.

PR Racing’s Keith Farmer was having one of the best BSB weekends for a while but a crash at Murrays put an end to that, and he hobbled off the track, but did make it into Q3, and if fit enough will start from the fourth row.

Qualifying two

Shane Byrne 1’47.790

Jakub Smrz 1’48.244

Brookes set the pace and clocked the fastest time of the day so far a 1’48.050 to once again top the timing-screens. Byrne tried to outdo the time set by Brookes, but he couldn’t better the Bringelly rider’s lap. But that was not to last, as Byrne pulled an extra three tenths out of the bag to smash his lap record at the circuit – and was the first rider of the day to rotate within the 1’47 bracket – after a 1’47.790.

Zanotti and Walker looked as if they had technical problems and only completed one lap, and their mechanics could not get their respective bikes out again. The veteran will start from the seventh row, after what was a promising opening start to his race weekend, especially when he was setting solid laps in free practice yesterday.

The housewives favourite is joined in the drop zone with Zanotti, Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot and Bathams Michael Rutter. It was not a good session for the Tyco Suzuki garage, as both riders failed to make it into Q3, and were unable to battle for the podium.

Hopkins still holds the out right lap record at the track but the Yank was not going to replicate his fast pace this afternoon. The Hopper, as he’s more affectionally known lapped a 1’49.422, just one tenth off making it into the next qualifying round.

Westmoreland very nearly failed to make it into Q3, but a lucky final lap was enough to push him to tenth, just on the edge of the drop zone. But the Hull based rider’s lap pushed Linfoot and Hopkins down to the elimination spots.

Eliminated

Linfoot

Hopkins

Rutter

Waters

Easton

Burrell

Wilson

Cooper

Walker

Zanotti

Qualifying one

Josh Brookes 1’48.456

Ryuichi Kiyonari 1’48.801

Brookes was the quickest rider in the opening qualifying outing, after a 1’48.456 was fast enough for him to ease into Q2. Joining the Aussie on the provisional front row was Da Costa and Kiyo, who were both three tenths off the pace of Brookes’ Yamaha.

Kiyo’s last lap dash certainly paid off as he went from fifth to third – just as the chequered flag appeared. Anvil Hire Tag Racing’s Mitchell Carr crashed on his opening lap at Coram but was unhurt, and has to start near the back of the grid. Halsall’s Harry Hartley also fell at Riches, but went in the medical centre to be assessed.

Hopkins was the last rider to leave his garage during the first session and was in danger of not going into Q2. But the American did improve to go 19th, but still way off the pace where he wants to be – but narrowly goes into Q2.

Easton was also another rider who was dangerously close of not getting into the next faze of qualifying, but he just had the edge to get 18th, with Zanetti rounding of the top twenty. FFX Yamaha’s Ian Hutchinson was at the bottom of the timesheets but then put in a 1’51.742 with seven minutes remaining, but it was only good enough to put him 21st and still in the drop zone.

But he was able to improve to teeter on the relegation zone in 19th, but soon slipped back down to 21st. But the TT legend was joined  by Mainwaring, Ingram, Tinmouth and Lo Turco.

Peter Hickman only jumped on the Tsingtao backed Kawasaki this afternoon, and is still finding his feet after not riding a Superbike since October. He was never realistically going to get into Q2, and will start from the back of the grid.

Eliminated

Hutchinson

Mainwaring

Hartley

Tinmouth

Lo Turco

Hickman

Carr

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