Michael Laverty tops day one at Brands BSB
Michael Laverty’s recent venture into MotoGP with Aprilia seems to have paid dividends. The Northern Irishman celebrated his return to the BSB ranks by topping the first day of practice in Kent, fighting off his MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship rivals in a session where the top 19 riders were covered by just 0.981s and five different manufacturers were represented in the top ten.
The Tyco BMW rider, who last weekend raced in the German round of MotoGP, underlined his versatility by heading off the challenge of the home contender and defending champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, by a narrow 0.057s.
Laverty had been building momentum throughout the two sessions, setting a pace of 1m 26.109s, continuing to build on the form he has enjoyed in the previous two rounds of Snetterton and Knockhill.
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) – “I’m really happy with the way things are going – we have been building over the last three rounds, starting at Snetterton and then at Knockhill. I am feeling really comfortable with the bike and knew that it was all coming together – we had been going round in circles earlier, but now I feel at home with the bike. We’ve adjusted the bike to suit my style, there are still a few things to work on and they could make all the difference.”
“I have been able to push at ten tenths and for the first time this year have ended the day leading the session. Riding in the MotoGP was good experience, and not a problem in terms of changing bikes as I had done test riding for them and I am pretty adaptable to be able to jump off one bike on to another in an exciting couple of weeks.
“I’ve only ever ridden a Superbike around here so it was a case of getting out, getting comfortable but now it is important to get big championship points in these races – will I try for the £50,000 challenge? First I need a bit more speed to get through from the back. I know how well those guys ride, there are a lot of good bikes, a lot of fast riders, so it is something to weight up on the day, but most importantly is getting points.”
Shane Byrne who carries the momentum of winning the previous four races, took time to dial in his PBM Kawasaki to the Grand Prix circuit, but is ready to challenge for his 67th win on his home circuit after ending the opening day second fastest.
However Josh Brookes also proved that he is going to be a threat in the two races this weekend; the Milwaukee Yamaha rider has only failed to finish off the podium once this season and knows the elusive first win of the season is within striking distance after setting the third fastest time. Brookes was also fastest out of the blocks, topping the opening practice session before being shuffled down the order by Laverty and Byrne in FP2.
Josh Brookes – “We have a new plan – F it its Friday, sensible Saturday and successful Sunday. We tried some quite different, I won’t say radical as nothing is radical in motorbike racing these days, but we pushed the boat out, and we have had some clear improvements with the bike in the second session. I lost some of my front end steering and feel that I normally have so we are conclusive with what we need to do to improve.
“We have to come up with something sensible for tomorrow as if we can get the steering that I am used to, and the knowledge we have now to stop the wheelie, we can put together a package for tomorrow it will work out. If I can get that feeling from the front end and the acceleration of the corners that I have achieved in FP2, we will probably be half a second better than my fastest time straight away and then we would be P1 at the moment.”
Richard Cooper on the Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki set the fourth best time, just ahead of Tommy Bridewell on the second Tyco BMW and JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison, who after two tough rounds is desperate to get his campaign back on track.
American John Hopkins marked his return to the championship by impressively setting the seventh fastest time on the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati, to be ahead of Martin Jessopp, James Westmoreland and Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran despite a crash at Druids.
Broc Parkes made his return to the track following his arm pump surgery and set the 16th fastest time and is confident of further improvement tomorrow with the top 19 riders covered by 0.9s.
Broc Parkes – “How I felt a couple of days ago with my arms, I’m pretty happy to be where I am. Times are not too far away but the times here are really close so in general this morning I’m still feeling a bit stiff and my arms are still a little fresh so I haven’t had the full movement yet and I felt better this afternoon. In general I think it’s not too bad but we’re a little bit down but not too far away so we’ll make some adjustments tomorrow and be as bit stronger and jump up a bit more.”
Free practice one
1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1m:26.388s
2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.025s
3: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.058s
4: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.264s
5: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.313s
6: Jack Kennedy (Team WD-40 Kawasaki) +0.497s
Free Practice two:
1: Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 1m:26.109s
2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.057s
3: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.123s
4: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.337s
5: Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +0.434s
6: James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.457s
British Supersport
Luke Stapleford came out fighting as he warned his Motorpoint British Supersport Championship title rivals that he is in a hurry to regain the lead in the chase for the crown.
The Profile Triumph rider goes into the races in third place in the standing, two points down on Kyle Ryde and a further point adrift of the series leading Glenn Irwin, both of whom are well on the the pace across both sessions.
Irwin, riding the Gearlink Kawasaki, came within 0.043s of levelling with Stapleford in the faster afternoon session with Ryde less than a quarter of a second down in what proved to be two closely fought sessions.
Jake Dixon, the local hero, riding the Smiths Triumph, is looking strong to challenge for a third victory of the campaign to close in on the leading trio while the Team Traction Control Yamaha duo of James Rispoli and Andy Reid are also well placed.
Luke Hedger, on the second Gearlink Kawasaki, put in a series of consistent laps as did Joe Collier the fastest of the Supersport EVO class riders aboard the Haribo Starmix Triumph, tenth overall, but little more that a second down on Stapleford.
Levi Day – “Happy with the first day at Brands Hatch. We had a gearbox go in free practice one so we didn’t turn any laps. The boys worked hard and got a new gearbox in it for free practice two and I managed to go 5th fastest Evo. Happy with that so far, got room to move forward tomorrow in Qualifying and the 12 lap sprint race! Thanks to my team for working hard.”
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Brands Hatch, Free practice one:
1: Luke Stapleford (Profile Triumph) 1m 29.025s
2: Kyle Ryde (PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha) +0.008s
3: Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.201s
4: James Rispoli (Team Traction Control Yamaha) +0.322s
5: Luke Hedger (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.370s
Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Brands Hatch, Free practice two:
1: Luke Stapleford (Profile Triumph) 1m 28.632s
2: Glenn Irwin (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.043s
3: Kyle Ryde (PacedayZ Trackdays Yamaha) +0.223s
4: Jake Dixon (Smiths Triumph) +0.497s
5: Andy Reid (Team Traction Control Yamaha) +0.982
