NW200 Ducati’s Michael Rutter was the only superbike rider to venture out onto a cold but drying Snetterton track today. In a first session mixed with superstock 1000 and supersport riders, he posted a 1’18.760 time which was beaten only by superstocker Kieran Blair (1’18.491).
Timing gurus TSL kept those present and those watching at home amused with timing screen messages such as "damp drying track" followed by "a big black cloud overhead", then "it’s lunch, Guido" followed by "we can see everything!"
Most other BSB teams stayed around to honour their media commitments and then left to go somewhere warm. Rizla Suzuki’s Tom Sykes said: “I’m disappointed with how it has worked out this weekend due to the weather as I was really looking forward to testing at Snetterton.
“There were a couple of things I wanted to try on the bike but it’s not a problem they are easy enough to try on my spare bike at Brands Hatch. It would have been good to have a run with everyone but it obviously wasn’t to be. I’m really looking forward to Brands Hatch, I feel confident and I just want the season to get started.”
In a smattering of other sessions, James Folkard was quickest from Lee Costello and Phillip Wakefield in the 125s
Robbie Brown was fastest in the Superstock 600 class followed by Aaron Easter, while Kelvin Reilly led Paul Lane on the KTMs.
In the final session, excellently entitled "Anyone With A Bike", Superstock 600 man Robert Guinan was fastest with James East second.
Download the time .pdfs here
