British SuperBikes 2000 - Round 6 - Silverstone - Saturday Qualifying
| Neil Hodgson was fastest in
today’s two timed qualifying sessions with a time more than one second
inside James Haydon's year-old lap record. John Reynolds was second
fastest with Steve Hislop and Chris Walker rounding out the front row of
the grid.
Harris Honda riders, Sean Emmett and Rob Frost, both put their kitted Honda VTR1000 SP-1s on the fourth row for tomorrow’s two sixth round British Superbike championship races at Silverstone. Surrey-based Emmett was positive about the set-up of his V-twin machine, despite his position on the grid. The 30-year-old is seeking the form that has taken him to a best finish of sixth this year at the Donington Park round in April. "We’ve made a small change after this morning which basically takes us back to the settings we were using at Donington," he said afterwards. "It made a big difference and I set my qualifying time on a race tyre. The race package is good and if it rains tomorrow anything could happen." Frost has been drafted into the Harris Honda squad this weekend as a replacement for the injured Shane Byrne, who was discharged from Norwich Hospital yesterday afternoon. The Lincoln rider was pleased with his qualifying performance, saying: "It’s my first time on a superbike and I didn’t get the chance to test before yesterday’s free practice which was a wash-out anyway. I’ve basically gone straight into two qualifying sessions and taken it fairly steady so I’m happy." A terrifying slide within yards of the finish line cost Team Kawasaki's Steve Plater a front row start for the seventh round British Superbike Championship at Silverstone. In the dying moments of the final session Plater was heading for his fastest qualifying lap of the National circuit when his rear tyre let go on the high-speed right hander of Woodcote Corner and he was catapulted out of the saddle of his TOTAL-backed ZX-7RR. "It was a high-side and a half. Right out of the seat and a lock to lock tankslapper," said Steve who reckons the incident, on his second flying lap on a qualifying tyre cost him the best part of a second. "It is disappointing but not the end of the world. We have a good dry set-up and I reckon we are as quick as anyone on race rubber. I will be practising a few starts in the morning and making one or two small improvements to the bike and then I think we'll be in great shape." Team-mate Marty Craggill will start from row three after his fast-lap ambitions were thwarted by a back marker. "I improved my first session time substantially but my best lap was baulked by a slow tail-ender so I am a little disappointed at my grid position. I can run with anyone on race tyres so I think it could be a good close race," said the Aussie who was tenth fastest. Final qualifying
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British SuperSport - Saturday Qualifying Australian Kirk McCarthy will start tomorrow’s sixth round British Supersport race at Silverstone from the front row of the grid after setting the second fastest time in today’s qualifying sessions. Jim Moodie was the fastest rider at the 2.252-mile Northamptonshire circuit and will start the 20-lap affair from pole position, with Honda-mounted Glen Richards third fastest and Dean Thomas completing the front row. McCarthy’s Castrol Honda team-mate, John McGuinness, heads row two in only his second outing on the CBR600, ahead of Scott Smart who was sixth fastest. Honda-mounted Andy Tinsley and Howard Whitby round out row two. "I wanted a better time and pole position to be honest," said McCarthy from Mickleham in Victoria. "It’s my first time here though and I guess tomorrow isn’t really about times, it’s about racing and I’ll be doing my best." McGuinness, who qualified on the front row for last week’s outing at Snetterton but then withdrew through injury, was encouraged by his own performance. "I’m pleased with that," said the 26-year-old from Morcambe. "If I can get a good start tomorrow I’ll be up there with the boys. The CBR’s real good but any problems I get are a little difficult to put my finger on because I’ve had so little experience with the bike. Job’s a good ‘un though." Final qualifying
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