Brookes Quickest, Hopkins Second In British Superbike Practice At Thruxton

Brookes Quickest, Hopkins Second In British Superbike Practice At Thruxton

© 2015, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

MCE British Superbike Championship

Thruxton Circuit, England

July 31, 2015

Free Practice Two Results (All on Pirelli tires):

1. Josh Brookes (Australia), Yamaha, 1:15.364

2. John Hopkins (USA), Ducati, 1:15.525

3. Richard Cooper (UK), Kawasaki, 1:15.531

4. James Westmoreland (UK), Kawasaki, 1:15.581

5. Luke Mossey (UK), Kawasaki, 1:15.715

6. Christian Iddon (UK), Suzuki, 1:15.739

7. Billy McConnell (Australia), BMW, 1:15.743

8. Peter Hickman (UK), BMW, 1:15.811

9. Chris Walker (UK), Kawasaki, 1:15.865

10. Ian Hutchinson (UK), Kawasaki, 1:16.046

11. Danny Buchan (UK), Kawasaki, 1:16.114

12. Shane Byrne (UK), Kawasaki, 1:16.170

13. Martin Jessopp (UK), BMW, 1:16.170

14. Josh Waters (Australia), Suzuki, 1:16.192

15. Adam Jenkinson (UK), Yamaha, 1:16.211

16. James Ellison (UK), Kawasaki, 1:16.285

17. Jason O’Halloran (Australia), Honda, 1:16.295

18. Tommy Bridewell (UK), BMW, 1:16.470

19. Aaron Zanotti (UK), Yamaha, 1:16.598

20. Filip Backlund (Sweden), Kawasaki, 1:16.602

21. Jack Kennedy (Ireland), Kawasaki, 1:16.613

22. Dan Linfoot (UK), Honda, 1:16.660

23. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Japan), BMW, 1:16.698

24. Michael Laverty (UK), BMW, 1:16.891

25. Howie Mainwaring Smart (UK), Kawasaki, 1:17.193

26. Barry Burrell (UK), Kawasaki, 1:17.534

27. Shaun Winfield (UK), Kawasaki, 1:17.649

28. Taylor Mackenzie (UK), Kawasaki, 1:17.734

29. Jed Metcher (Australia), Kawasaki, 1:18.281

30. Jenny Tinmouth (UK), Honda, 1:18.632

31. Lee Costello (UK), Kawasaki), 1:19.113

32. Lee Jackson (UK), BMW, no time recorded

American James Rispoli was fourth-fastest in Motorpoint British Supersport Free Practice Two with a lap time of 1:17.721 on his Team Traction Control Yamaha YZF-R6.

More, from a press release issued by MotorSport Vision:

Brookes beats Hopkins to the top as Shakey misses out at Thruxton

Results

Free practice one:

1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1m:15.659s

2: Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.134s

3: Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.264s

4: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.368s

5: James Westmoreland (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.372s

6: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.465s

Free practice two:

1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1m:15.364s

2: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.161s

3: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.167s

4: James Westmoreland (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.217s

5: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.351s

6: Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.375s

Combined free practice times:

1: Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1m 15.364s

2: John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.161s

3: Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.167s

4: James Westmoreland (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.217s

5: Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Tec-Care Kawasaki) +0.351s

6: Christian Iddon (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.375s

Report

Josh Brookes proved that he is on the ascendancy in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship as he set the pace in the opening free practices at Thruxton in another pair of incredibly close sessions where the top seventeen riders were separated by just 0.931s.

The Milwaukee Yamaha rider had the edge over his rivals in both sessions as he looks to build on his winning double of the previous round at Brands Hatch which moved him to within five points of the series-leading, four-time champion Shane “Shakey” Byrne.

Brookes had been closed down in the afternoon session by American contender John Hopkins as the former MotoGP ace slashed the advantage, firing the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati to within 0.161s of his Australian rival.

Meanwhile Byrne was twelfth in the second session, but despite holding eighth place on the combined times, the four-time champion was unfazed and believes he has more pace over race distance.

Richard Cooper maintained his form from Brands Hatch by posting the third fastest time ahead of James Westmoreland on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki, rookie Luke Mossey and Christian Iddon completed the top six in a top ten featuring five different manufacturers.

Adam Jenkinson joined the Milwaukee Yamaha team from the second session, deputising for Broc Parkes who was suffering further arm-pump problems, set the fifteenth fastest time.

For more information visit www.britishsuperbike.com

Josh Brookes

(Milwaukee Yamaha)

“It didn’t start out immediately that ok – we like to have the bike close to the same as the previous track, but Thruxton is so unique that you have to come with a whole different attitude. We started on a set-up that didn’t work that well, but we were able to improve all day and a fresh tyre left me at the top of the sheets.

“In the afternoon, that meant we were able to play around with SC1 and SC2 tyres. I wasn’t terrible on the SC1 – I think I was 0.6 faster than Shakey on it – but it’s a decision we can make after to tomorrow for the race.”

John Hopkins

(Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati)

“The bike felt amazing today. Obviously I’ve never ridden a Ducati around here so there are a few things to get used to like different gear patterns compared to previous bikes. We have some minor technical glitches that kept us in the garage for some of that session so it was good to get back out towards the end and sort everything out.

“I was in a good rhythm – the bike honestly feels so good – stability, grip, torque, it’s got everything – and the good thing is we’ve actually got some improvements we can make to the lap time and overall consistency. I’m really looking forward to tomorrow and hoping the weather stays good! We’re going to keep working and are definitely chasing the podium.

“I came into this weekend aiming at a top three finish, and while we’ve got to take each session as it comes, the way it ended today with second overall is a big confidence boost because we know we have even more in the box.”

More, from a press release issued by Milwaukee Yamaha:

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Brookes sets the pace at Thruxton

The Milwaukee Yamaha continued to lead the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship pack at Thruxton today (Friday) as Josh Brookes set the pace in both sessions ahead of tomorrow’s Datatag Qualifying session.

Brookes had been building up momentum throughout the sessions and continued to increase his pace at the circuit where he claimed a double victory last season.

Broc Parkes was sidelined for the weekend as the Australian continued to suffer from a recent arm pump operation and Adam Jenkinson will deputise for him for the remainder of the Thruxton weekend.

Josh Brookes

“It didn’t start out immediately that ok this morning – we like to have the bike close to the same as the previous track when we first start the weekend, but Thruxton is so unique that you have to come with a whole different attitude. We started on a set-up that didn’t work that well, but we were able to improve all day and a fresh tyre left me at the top of the sheets.

“In the afternoon, that meant we were able to play around with SC1 and SC2 tyres. It’s left us with more questions than answers at the minute – I tried the SC0 too, and while I like it, will it be as good at the end of the race? I think I was 0.6 faster than Shakey on the SC1 – but its how it’s going to affect how the race goes.”

Adam Jenkinson

“It’s been a few years since I last rode a Superbike and the biggest things for me were the tyres and brakes. It was not such a massive change for me, the seat and handlebars were not so different compared to the Superstock bike, it was the tyres and brakes were the big ones.

“I’m satisfied but my last lap might have been better but today was just getting used to the bike. I’m confident that I can go faster but I am only 0.8s off the fastest time. I am not going to get giddy and carried away by it all.”

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