Laverty launches to the lead in top ten shake up at Brands Hatch

Michael Laverty proved that he will be back fighting for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship honours at Brands Hatch this weekend as the Tyco BMW launched himself to the top of the timesheets after the second free practice session. The Grand Prix circuit produced a second session where the top 18 riders were covered by less than a second and the top ten featured five different manufacturers.

Josh Brookes had taken the initial advantage early on, but the Tyco BMW was threatening from the off and he moved to the top to hold the position despite some last minute movers in the top ten ahead of tomorrow’s Datatag Qualifying race one grid decider.

Laverty had held off Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne, who saved his best lap for the closing stages of the 45 minute session to push Brookes back to third, after the Milwaukee Yamaha rider had topped the morning free practice.

Laverty said:

“I’m really happy with the way things are going – we have been building over the last three rounds, starting at Snetterton and then at Knockhill. I am feeling really comfortable with the bike and knew that it was all coming together – we had been going round in circles earlier but now I feel at home with the bike. I have been able to push at ten tenths and for the first time this year have ended the day leading the session. It is important to get big championship points in these races.” 

Richard Cooper proved he could maintain his early pace by returning to the top five in fourth place with the Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki, nudging Tommy Bridewell on the second Tyco BMW to fifth place.

The JG Speedfit Kawasaki pairing were both inside the top ten with James Ellison in sixth place and James Westmoreland in ninth place, with John Hopkins breaking into the top ten on his debut with the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati squad in seventh ahead of an impressive Martin Jessopp.

Honda Racing completed the top ten with Jason O’Halloran after he dropped from third place to tenth in the final minutes after crashing out unhurt at Druids.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Free Practice two:

Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) 1m:26.109s
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.057s
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.123s
Richard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +0.337s
Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +0.434s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.457s
John Hopkins (Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati) +0.466s
Martin Jessopp (RidersMotorcycles.com BMW) +0.486s
James Westmoreland (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.492s
Jason O’Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.597s

Source: Laverty launches to the lead in top ten shake up at Brands Hatch