Bsb brands hatch

[themo]

Michael Laverty topped the final pre-season test at Snetterton last week and now the Swan Yamaha rider is looking to carry that momentum into this weekend's opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.Josh Brookes is determined to get his season off to a winning start at Brands Hatch this Easter weekend (22-25 April) for the Relentless Suzuki by TAS team as he bids to go one better and secure a maiden BSB title crown.

Brookes finished second in last year's title race and following a switch to the Northern Irish-based team over the winter, which included a move closer to their rural base in Moneymore, he believes he starts his season stronger than before and ready to launch his title challenge this weekend.

Shane 'Shakey' Byrne is back in BSB and the former double champion means business for the HM Plant Honda team as he bids to equal the record of his new team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari with a third MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship title.

Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill is determined to bounce back from a recent crash at Snetterton during pre-season testing,Hill was the pace-setter in the Spanish test at Cartagena but suffered a crash whilst testing last week at Snetterton. However Hill is now looking ahead to the season opener and is hoping for a repeat performance of last season when he left the opening round with a win and a second place plus the championship lead.

John Hopkins has just one day until he makes his much anticipated debut in the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.The Samsung Crescent Racing team topped the recent test at Brands Hatch and now Hopkins is hoping that this weekend he could make BSB history. The highest ever position scored by an American rider to date is eighth place by Tom Kipp back in the 2000 season at Knockhill for the Demon Vimto Honda team so a strong debut finish could put him in the record books.

2011 rider lineup.
No Name / Team
1 R. Kiyonari
HM Plant Honda
2 J. Brookes
Relentless Suzuki
3 S. Easton
MSS Colchester Kawasaki
4 D. Linfoot
Sorrymate.com Honda
5 I. Lowry
Buildbase BMW
6 M. Rutter
Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati
7 M. Laverty
Swan Yamaha
8 J. Laverty
Buildbase BMW
9 C. Walker
Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki
10 J. Kirkham
Samsung Crescent Racing
11 G. Martin
Relentless Suzuki
19 S. Brogan
Jentin Racing Honda
21 J. Hopkins
Samsung Crescent Racing
27 J. Westmoreland
Motorpoint Yamaha
33 T. Hill
Swan Yamaha
40 M. Jessopp
Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati
46 T. Bridewell
Tyco Honda
56 H. Kennaugh
Splitlath Motorsport
60 P. Hickman
Tyco Honda
65 L. Baz
Motorpoint Yamaha
67 S. Byrne
HM Plant Honda
79 N. Medd
Boss DB
100 J. Tinmouth
Splitlath Motorsport
101 G. Mason
MSS Colchester Kawasaki

[MrMetro]

Should be a great season, I'll be intrigued how the Cresent team do without any Suzuki backing. I think Hopper will do well, he seems a changed man, and wants to make up for lost ground.

Tommy Hill will be a title threat again on the Swan Yamaha for sure. Kiyonari will of course, be a favourite for the title, as will his HM Plant Honda teammate, 'Shakey' Byrne.

[themo]

HM Plant Honda's Shane 'Shakey' Byrne set the pace in the final test session ahead of this weekend's opening round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.Ten minutes into the hour-long session Hopkins set the benchmark with a 46.311s ahead of defending champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and his team-mate Jon Kirkham on the second of the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki.Hopkins continued to set the pace, posting a faster lap with 35 minutes remaining with a time of 46.300s before the session was red flagged when Dennis Hobbs crashed out at Paddock Hill Bend, he was suffering from concussion and was taken to the medical centre.The session was restarted and then it was Josh Brookes who put the Relentless Suzuki to the top of the times with less than 20 minutes remaining as he edged 0.226s ahead of Hopkins with Kiyonari still in third.The session was then red flagged for the second time when Glen Richards crashed out at Druids whilst lying in tenth and the track was inspected for possible signs of oil, but it was shortly resumed.
Final test times before tomorrows free practice.
1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 45.777s
2.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.170s
3.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.276s
4.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.297s
5.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.355s
6.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.355s
7.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.383s
8.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.471s
9.Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.618s
10.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +0.656s

[Rod Richardson]

The Aussies love off-roading and Brookes and Richards couldn't resist visiting the gravel at Druids.
Good to see Byrne and Hopkins doing well at this stage........Lap record of 45.460 held by Gregorio Lavilla Oct. 07

[themo]

Some of these lap records should go this weekend.
British Superbike Championship - 14/10/07
Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati
45.460s, 94.91mph

British Supersport Championship - 05/04/10
Sam Lowes, Honda
46.808s, 92.18mph

British 125GP Championship - 02/09/01
Sam Owens, Honda
48.993s, 90.10mph

National Superstock 1000 Championship - 05/04/10
Steve Plater, Honda
46.671s, 92.45mph

National Superstock 600 Championship - 05/04/10
Jimmy Hill, Triumph
48.394s, 89.16mph

[themo]

BSB's first female racer Jenny Tinmouth will have to wait until her home round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship next weekend (30 April - 2 May) at Oulton Park to make her BSB race debut after a delay in parts for the Aprilia RSV4 ahead of Easter Monday's races.

[themo]

BSB Free Practice 1 results.
1.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 45.687s
2.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.081s
3.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.088s
4.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.186s
5.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.259s
6.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com SMT Honda) +0.302s
7.Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +0.307s
8.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.335s
9.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.366s
10.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.427s

[NinjaMaster]

Struth, throw a napkin over the top 10, that's close!

[themo]

BSB Free Practice 2 Results.
1.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 45.499s
2.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.008s
3.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.032s
4.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.037s
5.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +0.229s
6.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +0.295s
7.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.418s
8.Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +0.425s
9.Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.425s
10.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.500s

[themo]

BSB Free Practice 3 Results.
1. Loris Baz FRA Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 45.530s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 45.614s
3. Michael Laverty GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 45.654s
4. John Hopkins USA Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.718s
5. Shane Byrne GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 45.720s
6. Jon Kirkham GBR Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.733s
7. Tommy Hill GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 45.736s
8. Josh Brookes AUS Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.767s
9. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda CBR1000RR 45.846s
10. Michael Rutter GBR Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R 45.899s

[Allyc85]

Come on Baz! Ive got him in my MCN dream team as he is cheap and thats a great time he has set! My other rider is Tunstall though, he was 30th or something like that in that session!

[themo]

Riders Out After Q1.
Lowes, Brogan, Hillier, Fitzpatrick, Andrews, Lowry, Martin, Burrell, Kennuagh, Muff, Zanotti, Smart, Tunstall, Mossa

Top 20 Covered by 0.623 sec

[themo]

Riders out after Q2:
Hopkins, Linfoot, Brookes, Jessopp, Walker, Mason, Gowland, Richards, J Laverty and Hickman

Top 10 covered by 0.396 sec

[themo]

Top five after Q2: Byrne - 45.301s from Kiyonari, Hill, Laverty and Kirkham

[themo]

Byrne sets the fastest ever lap of the Indy circuit with a time of 45.112s!

[themo]

Final Times After Q3.
1. Shane Byrne GBR HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 45.112s
2. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda CBR1000RR 45.192s
3. Michael Laverty GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 45.280s
4. Tommy Hill GBR Swan Yamaha YZF-R1 45.324s
5. Loris Baz FRA Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 45.520s
6. Michael Rutter GBR Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R 45.606s
7. Jon Kirkham GBR Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.627s
8. Tommy Bridewell GBR Tyco Honda CBR1000RR 45.815s
9. James Westmoreland GBR Motorpoint Yamaha YZF-R1 45.892s
10. Stuart Easton GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R 46.059s

[Rod Richardson]

The rest................1 second covers first 18 bikes

11. John Hopkins USA Samsung Crescent Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.739s
12. Dan Linfoot GBR Sorrymate.com SMT Honda CBR1000RR 45.745s
13. Josh Brookes AUS Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 45.813s
14. Martin Jessopp GBR Rapid-Bathams Ducati 1098R 45.838s
15. Chris Walker GBR Pr1mo Kawasaki ZX-10R 45.880s
16. Gary Mason GBR MSS Colchester Kawasaki ZX-10R 45.920s
17. Graeme Gowland GBR WFR Honda CBR1000RR 46.969s (E)
18. Glen Richards AUS WFR Honda CBR1000RR 46.092s (E)
19. John Laverty GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR 46.179s
20. Peter Hickman GBR Tyco Honda CBR1000RR 46.187s
21. Alex Lowes GBR WFR Honda CBR1000RR 46.255s (E)
22. Steve Brogan GBR Jentin Honda CBR1000RR 46.345s
23. James Hillier GBR Bournemouth Kawasaki ZX-10R 46.353s (E)
24. Craig Fitzpatrick GBR Close Print Honda CBR1000RR 46.394s (E)
25. Simon Andrews GBR PR Kawasaki ZX-10R 46.443s (E)
26. Ian Lowry GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR 46.504s
27. Guy Martin GBR Relentless Suzuki GSX-R1000 46.579s
28. Barry Burrell GBR Buildbase BMW S1000RR 46.712s (E)
29. Hudson Kennaugh RSA Splitlath Aprilia RSV-4 46.726s
30. Patric Muff SUI Tyco Honda CBR1000RR 46.761s (E)
31. Aaron Zanotti GBR Quattro Plant Spike BMW S1000RR 46.799s (E)
32. Scott Smart GBR Moto Rapido Ducati 1098R 47.059s (E)
33. Tom Tunstall GBR Doodson Honda CBR1000RR 47.951s (E)
34. Matteo Mossa ITA 777R Suzuki GSX-R1000 48.578s (E)

[themo]

Graeme Gowland will start from 17th place on the grid and was the fastest of the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class riders.

[NinjaMaster]

Such close qualifying = brutal racing I reckon!

[themo]

Race 1 Result Superbikes.
1.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda)
2.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +1.154s
3.Tommy Bridewell (Tyco Honda) +2.667s
4.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +2.764s
5.Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing) +3.408s
6.Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +4.310s
7.Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) +4.496s
8.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +5.090s
9.Martin Jessopp (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +5.100s
10.Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +7.728s

[themo]

Race 2 Result Superbikes.
1.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha)
2.Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.142s
3.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.598s
4.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +4.463s
5.John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing) +10.089s
6.Stuart Easton (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +11.984s
7.Michael Rutter (Rapid Solicitors-Bathams Ducati) +13.048s
8.Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +13.897s
9.Peter Hickman (Tyco Honda) +18.431s
10.Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +18.473s

[themo]

2011 BSB Standings After Brands Hatch.
1. T. Hill Swan Yamaha 45
2. S. Byrne HM Plant Honda 41
3 . S. Easton MSS Colchester Kawasaki 23
4 . R. Kiyonari HM Plant Honda 20
5 . M. Rutter Rapid Solicitors Ducati 19
6 . T. Bridewell Tyco Honda 16
7 . D. Linfoot Sorrymate.com Honda 16
8 . M. Laverty Swan Yamaha 13
9 . L. Baz Motorpoint Yamaha 12
10. J. Kirkham Samsung Crescent Racing 11

[Allyc85]

What a great days racing! With the power of the Honda and the sweet handling of the Yamaha we could be in for a great season!

Any news on the 125 riders that were injured in the first corner crash?

[Rod Richardson]

Josh Brookes
“I suppose we did all right coming back from where we were in qualifying and I have to say, everything felt one-hundred percent better today on my bike. As I said after qualifying, I knew what caused the problem and once we’d that sorted we were fast in morning warm-up and in the race. While I was battling with people in the race I couldn’t get into a proper rhythm, but once I got to P2, which was quite easy, I was totally confident. I saw Shakey and thought, ‘I’m in a good position here,’ but it all ended at Paddock Hill. I’m upbeat because I really can’t believe how I didn’t injure myself in such a big crash. Now I’m just looking forward to Oulton Park.”

Could not get a medical clearance for Race 2 ,,,,,,,,

[NinjaMaster]

It's a tough start for the Suzuki duo of Brookes and Hopkins, giving up a lot of points straight away but it's a long season and everyone will have a bad round.
Tommy Hill has got off to a great start in making amends for missing out on the title last year. Also, Byrne must be much happier being so competitive again after his trials in WSB. Kiyonari has made a solid start to the defence of his crown and Stuart Easton gave Kawasaki a decent start to their BSB campaign. Superbike racing really is riding a wave of brilliance at the moment.