The British Superbike season got underway today with free practice at Brands Hatch ahead of the curtain raiser this Sunday.
Defending Champion and Kent’s very own Shane Byrne picked up where he left off in 2012 by topping the timesheets this afternoon.
His Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki was just ahead of Alex Lowes in second place and Tommy Bridewell in third place.
Japanese rider Ryuichi Kiyonari thought to be Byrne’s main title rival again this season on his Samsung Honda was down in fourth place.
Of course it is early days in the race weekend and indeed the season, qualifying tomorrow afternoon will give a clearer idea of where everyone is at in terms of development.
Either way it is going to be yet another entertaining afternoon of racing at Brands Hatch for the second weekend running.
Giving his reaction to the opening practice sessions of the 2013 season, Shane said: “I was really relieved to get some laps in this afternoon as the highlight of my morning before that had been eating a bowl of crunchy nut cornflakes! I know we still have work to do, because we have had a similar feeling with the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki that we had in testing.
“This afternoon the conditions improved and to be honest I feel positive about the weather improving over the next two days and then we can aim to be in a good position on Sunday afternoon.”
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, free practice two:
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 46.787s
- Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) +0.086s
- Tommy Bridewell (Bathams Honda) +0.309s
- Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +0.524s
- James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.538s
- Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.574s
- James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +0.777S
- Karl Harris (PR Racing Kawasaki) +0.784s
- Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) +0.961s
- Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) +1.100s