Sunday, June 19, 2011

Buoyant Baz fastest ahead of qualifying

18/06/2011 – Loris Baz mastered the wet conditions in the final free practice session at Knockhill to put Motorpoint Yamaha back at the top of the timesheets ahead of this afternoon’s race one grid-deciding qualifying session as Alex Lowes rocketed to second.

Baz said: “I am really happy with the session; we did a good lap time at the start and I was still able to improve the time again. We made a small amount of changes to the Motorpoint Yamaha and I have to thank the team. I can’t wait for qualifying!”

There was a frantic start to the final free practice session as Josh Brookes was one of the first riders to set a lap, putting the Relentless Suzuki at the top of the times in the opening ten minutes. It then ended in disaster for the Australian when he crashed out at Clarks just a few laps later to bring his session to a premature halt. He was able to rejoin the session in the final stages but ended eighth fastest.

Alex Lowes then took the top spot on the MSS Colchester Kawasaki as Tommy Hill went second fastest on the Swan Yamaha with Brookes still in third at that point. Flying Frenchman Baz then dipped under Lowes’ time to move fastest and as the rain continued to fall he was able to remain in the top spot as the time ticked down.

Lowes maintained second from Hill who was the fastest rider on circuit yesterday as Michael Laverty climbed to fourth at the halfway point of the session on the second of the Swan Yamahas. Pr1mo Racing’s Chris Walker had his best result of the season as he moved fifth fastest to push Gary Mason back to sixth.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne was one of the riders to complete the most amount of laps during the session and was sixth fastest ahead of Brookes and Glen Richards who again put the Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo specification WFR Honda inside the top ten. Dan Linfoot was tenth fastest despite a spill in the final three minutes of the session when he crashed at Clarks uninjured.

It was a steady session for Ryuichi Kiyonari and John Hopkins who ended eighteenth and twenty-fourth respectively with the pair completing just 16 laps apiece. Simon Andrews was the second fastest of the Mirror.co.uk BSB Evo riders in thirteenth with Craig Fitzpatrick moving up to third.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, free practice three result:

1.Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) 53.450s
2.Alex Lowes (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.075s
3.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) +0.272s
4.Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +0.691s
5.Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +0.731s
6.Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.774s
7.Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +0.920s
8.Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) +0.927s
9.Glen Richards (WFR Honda) +1.038s
10. Dan Linfoot (Sorrymate.com Honda) +1.147s

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship qualifying session starts at 14:40 this afternoon.

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship is at Knockhill this weekend (17-19 June). For more information visit www.knockhill.com or call 01383 723337.


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Brad Lackey Arthur Lampkin Steve Lamson Grant Langston Danny LaPorte

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