From a press release issued by Hawk Kawasaki:

SMART FOURTH QUICKEST, HICKMAN ON PROVISIONAL POLE

Hawk Kawasaki’s Scott Smart today posted the fourth quickest time during free practice for the eleventh round of the THINK! British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park. The number 88 rider, who was fastest in the 50 minute morning session with a time of 1:29.754 around the 2.18 mile Lincolnshire circuit, was in relaxed mood and confident of shaving more off his best lap of 1:29.523 in tomorrow’s two qualifying sessions.

“The bike’s reasonably good and I’m sure we’ll go faster on it tomorrow,” he said. “We’ve worked on a few things today and already got it better so I’m feeling confident. We were fastest this morning and only four tenths off this afternoon so that’s a good start because I know there’s more to come.”

Fellow Hawk Kawasaki BSB chargers Glen Richards and John McGuinness were twelfth and thirteenth quickest, respectively, in today’s free practice. But, as McGuinness explained, with less than one and half seconds splitting the top 13 riders it’s all to play for tomorrow.

“It looks pretty bad on paper being down in 13th but with another half a second we’d be right up there,” he said. “I think I can find that tomorrow as well, I’ll make sure of that. I’d like to be in the top 10 at least. We’ve been working really hard to get the bike feeling right and I thought we’d got it sussed. Then with five minutes to go I tried to have a go but caught a few people napping out there. The bike feels good, so it’s probably me just being a little bit rusty. It’s my first time around Cadwell on a superbike and I’m pretty happy.”

Richards showed tremendous grit and determination by posting a time just 1.2 seconds off provisional pole, despite only having had limited time aboard the Hawk ZX-10R since breaking his left arm and elbow in June.

“We’re just trying a few things with the bike today, plus it’s that long since I’ve ridden properly so it’s taking a bit of time,” explained the Aussie. “Plus I require a slightly different set-up. I need the bike to do a bit more of the turning for me because the left arm’s still not back to full strength. It’s pretty good, but not quite there. It’s hard to ride around here when you’re fully fit so when you’re carrying an injury you’ve just got to grit your teeth.”

Hawk Kawasaki National Superstock Cup rider Peter Hickman was all smiles after setting a blistering pace in first qualifying. The 17 year-old, from Willoughby in Lincolnshire, took provisional pole with ease after posting a scorching lap of 1:33.588. Not only was his time more than 1.8 seconds clear of his nearest rival, it was also good enough for sixth place on the main Superstock grid. A delighted Hickman said:

“That last lap was a bit scary but I’m really pleased to take provisional pole because this is my home track. I got caught in traffic a few times out there but once I got a clear run the times just came. We’ll see if we can improve on the time in tomorrow’s qualifying session, although I’m sure it’ll be good enough for pole.”

BSB PRACTICE 2

1) Michael Rutter, Honda, 1:29.115. 2) John Reynolds, Suzuki, 1:29.145. 3) Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki, 1:29.368. 4) Scott Smart, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:29.523. 5) Sean Emmett, Ducati, 1:29.738. 6) Ryuichi Kiyonari, Honda, 1:29.803. 7) Gary Mason, Yamaha, 1:30.047. 8) Dean Thomas, Ducati, 1:30.068. 9) James Haydon, Yamaha, 1:30.128. 10) Tommy Hill, Yamaha, 1:30.206. 11) Steve Plater, Yamaha, 1:30.300. 12) Glen Richards, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:30.347. 13) John McGuinness, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:30.495. 14) Jon Kirkham, Suzuki (P), 1:31.107. 15) James Ellison, Yamaha (P), 1:31.352

(P) = Privateer

NATIONAL SUPERSTOCK CUP PRACTICE

1) Peter Hickman, Hawk Kawasaki, 1:33.588. 2) Simon Wright, Yamaha, 1:35.416. 3) Graham Seward, Suzuki, 1:36.082. 4) Paul Shoesmith, Yamaha, 1:36.098. 5) James McBride, Suzuki, 1:36.417. 6) Kris Jennes, Kawasaki, 1:36.424. 7) Rory Rock, Yamaha, 1:36.424. 8) John Fisher, Suzuki, 1:36.513. 9) Mark Turner, Kawasaki, 1:36.706. 10) Charles Reynolds, Kawasaki, 1:37.379. 11) Mike Walker, Suzuki, 1:37.440. 12) Dan Stewart, Suzuki, 1:37.653. 13) Dan Rack, Suzuki, 1:37.826. 14) Lee Morton, Suzuki, 1:37.897. 15) James Hurrell, Suzuki, 1:39.125


More, from a press release issued by Rizla Suzuki:

Yuki fast and fearless at Cadwell Park


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RIZLA SUZUKI ace Yukio Kagayama took a fearless third place during today’s free practice for the 11th round of the Think! British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park – the scene of the horrific accident one year ago that nearly ended his career.

Yuki shrugged off any concerns about his ability to race at the Lincolnshire circuit by building up his speed steadily through today’s two one-hour long practice sessions. The Japanese Factory Suzuki rider, who broke his pelvis in two places in an accident here last year and is still recovering, is determined to try and get on the rostrum in both races.

Rizla Suzuki racer and Championship leader John Reynolds just eclipsed Yuki by finishing in second place and within a fraction of fastest man on the day Michael Rutter on a Honda.

Both Rizla Suzuki team mates got through a host of tyre and set-up tests today and are confident there is major progress to be made tomorrow.

Racing starts at 12:15pm on Bank Holiday Monday at the 2.18-mile long Cadwell Park venue, which is renown as one of the most popular events on the British Superbike calendar, with more than 35,000 spectators expected to attend. It will be screened live on Sky Sports and a highlights programme shown on the BBC one week later.

Yuki:
“Many people ask me today how I feel about coming back to Cadwell Park after big accident last year. I honestly think this is no problem, I am professional racer and it is another circuit I will race on and want to win. I am not sure of the meaning of strange English word – fear? This I do not understand.

“I work on trying to find fast lines and this is main priority for tomorrow. I have not enough experience of circuit and so far no consistency because I am not so sure of braking markers and corners. I follow John-san at end of session and this helps me with learning circuit. My team makes bike handle sweet, which is good. Tomorrow, we make even better with small adjustment to forks.”

JR:
“I’m enjoying myself. I have been using both my bikes and doing some back-to-back testing and making good progress. One thing that is really impressing me is the engine on my Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000, it is absolutely fantastic. My technicians must have been working hard since Croft because this bike is accelerating like there’s no tomorrow.

“I’ll be altering fork and steering damper settings for tomorrow and then finishing off tyre testing before having a crack at an outright lap time. There are hordes of fans here cheering me on already and I cannot tell you how much that lifts me. Thanks for coming!”

Saturday Free Practice:
1: Michael Rutter (Honda) 1:29.115
2: JOHN REYNOLDS (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.030
3: YUKIO KAGAYAMA (RIZLA SUZUKI) +0.253
4: Scott Smart (Kawasaki) +0.408
5: Sean Emmett (Ducati) +0.623
6: Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) +0.688
7: Gary Mason (Yamaha) +0.932
8: Dean Thomas (Ducati) +0.953
9: James Haydon (Yamaha) +1.103
10: Tommy Hill (Yamaha) +1.091