Jason O’Halloran hits the top despite a crash as MCE BSB kicks off at Snetterton
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran hit the top of the free practice times at Snetterton today (Friday), holding the advantage by just 0.1s from Danny Buchan as the top twelve riders battled to within a second of the fastest time.
The Australian saved his best until last, firing in the fastest time of the day in the final five minutes of the session, which was just enough to secure his position at the top despite a small crash at Agostini in the closing stages.
Buchan had been fighting hard in free practice ahead of his home round; the 24-year-old from Essex moving to within just 0.112s of pace-setter O’Halloran and Luke Mossey, who had topped the opening session in drying conditions for Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki.
Peter Hickman led the JG Speedfit Kawasaki charge in fourth place, but only just as he had four-time champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne hot on his heels from Tommy Bridewell, who had a strong start to his weekend for Bennetts Suzuki.
Rookie Glenn Irwin was seventh fastest on the second Be Wiser Ducati ahead of Broc Parkes, who made his debut with the ePayMe Yamaha team in place of John Hopkins who is sidelined through injury.
Dan Linfoot and James Ellison completed the top ten, whilst championship leader Leon Haslam set the eleventh fastest time.
Billy McConnell ended day one 17th quickest while Josh Hook managed 30th on the timesheets aboard the Team WD-40 Kawasaki, two-seconds behind the team’s regular rider Jack Kennedy, who ranked 23rd on the opening day.
In Supersport Tarran McKenzie led the way while Benjamin Currie was seventh quickest and South Australia’s Levi Day was 22nd on the timesheets.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Snetterton, Free Practice two
- Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) 1m:48.212s
- Danny Buchan (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.112s
- Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +0.251s
- Peter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.424s
- Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.449s
- Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.469s
- Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.494s
- Broc Parkes (ePayMe Yamaha) +0.503s
- Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.712s
- James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.720s
- Leon Haslam Kawasaki +0.799s
- Michael Laverty BMW +0.965
- Christian Iddon BMW +1.014
- Richard Cooper BMW +1.089
- Lee Jackson BMW +1.103
- Martin Jessopp BMW +1.316
- Billy McConnell Kawasaki +1.518
- Alastair Seeley BMW +1.685
- Jakub Smrz BMW +1.725
- Jake Dixon BMW +1.750
- Stuart Easton Yamaha +1.929
- James Rispoli Yamaha +2.252
- Jack Kennedy Kawasaki +2.588
- Aaron Zanotti Yamaha +2.750
- Filip Backlund Kawasaki +3.201
- Ryuichi Kiyonari Suzuki +3.231
- Shaun Winfield Yamaha +3.727
- Howie Mainwaring-Smart +3.854
- Jenny Tinmouth Honda +4.019
- Josh Hook Kawasaki +4.527
- Vittorio Iannuzzo Kawasaki +4.685
- Josh Wainwright BMW +4.696
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing)
“Today has been a good day! This morning we had a wet session and I learnt a lot, I was happy where we ended up but knew we were capable of more. I went into the afternoon’s session feeling confident and happy with how the CBR was feeling, throughout the session it was faultless and I felt like I could have done what I wanted with the bike and could just keep pushing.
“We played about a little with some settings, but not too much as I was confident with what we had. I did have a little off at the end of the session, but we tried something different that didn’t quite work out, but we finished the day P1 so it’s all good. I feel we’re in a good place for tomorrow now and also the rest of the weekend come wet or dry. I’m just looking forward to getting back out there now and seeing what we can do.”
