--  BSB 2012 - Round 12 - Brands Hatch
--  Lowes quick out of blocks

Free practice one:
1: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1m 28.022s
2: Karl Harris (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.934s
3: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) +0.936s
4: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +1.339s
5: Chris Walker (Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki) +1.438s
6: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +1.490s

Free practice two:
1: Alex Lowes (WFR Honda) 1m:26.264s
2: Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.425s
3: Barry Burrell (Buildbase BMW) +0.467s
4: Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.737s
5: Karl Harris (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.826s
6: James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +0.851s

Alex Lowes underlined his late challenge for the MCE Insurance British Superbike crown by scorching to the top of the times in free practice today ahead of series leader Shane Byrne, as the title protagonists prepare for the final three title-deciding races on the Brands Hatch Grand Prix circuit.

WFR Honda's Lowes, who had run third fastest in the drying morning session, upped the pace in the afternoon and saved the best for last to bump Byrne to second place in the closing minute.

Young gun Lowes goes into Saturday afternoon’s race in third place in the standings, 24 points down on Byrne but with two races on Sunday afternoon he knows there is still a real chance to snatch the crown.

“Being realistic, it will take a mistake from the guys, Shane and Josh Brookes in front of me in the standings for that to happen,” said Lowes, adding: “I have nothing to lose so I intend to go out there and enjoy these last races, have a good fight with the boys and go for the wins.”

Byrne had set the pace in the morning session aboard the Rapid Solicitors Kawaski and is prepared to battle for a record equalling third British title. He has a nine points advantage over Aussie Josh Brookes who was fourth fastest overall on his Tyco Suzuki.

But the three other Title Fighters in this final Showdown round had mixed fortunes. Michael Laverty spent both sessions working hard on the settings of his Samsung Honda in an effort to extend tyre life. He was seventh fastest, just ahead of Swan Yamaha’s reigning champion Tommy Hill.

Supersonic BMW's Tommy Bridewell meanwhile remained eighth fastest despite taking a bruising with a left hand and finger injury in a heavy crash at Stirlings Bend which saw the session briefly halted.

-- Tyco Suzuki Report

Josh Brookes is primed and ready for the final throw of the dice in this season’s British Superbike Championship with Tyco Suzuki. The Australian is just nine points off the championship lead in second place as the Showdown enters the final three races of the season on Saturday and Sunday.

Consistency is paramount in the search of any championship, which Brookes has demonstrated this season with seventeen podiums so far, and with three wins in four races at Donington and Assen in the Netherlands, the New South Wales Aussie is ready to show his metal at Brands Hatch this weekend.

Josh Brookes: “We have worked hard to get this far and we know collectively as a team what job we need to do this weekend to try and win the championship. All six Showdown contenders are mathematically still in with a chance but I have every confidence in my crew and the GSX-R1000 Suzuki. The rest we will just have to wait and see.”

Alastair Seeley: “This weekend I would like to end the season on a high. We had a good result here at the start of the year but this weekend is about trying to win the championship as a team. I’ll be doing my best to help Josh out if possible.”

Philip Neill – Team Manager: “It’s been a long hard season and all my team, Josh and the GSX-R1000 Suzuki have proven to be a championship challenging package. The Showdown format is loved by some and hated by others, but it does guarantee a fitting climax to a very strong and popular Superbike championship. Our aim is to change nothing and keep ticking all the right boxes this weekend. The title, in my eyes, is currently in Shakey’s own hands. He’s got a nine-point lead, he’s racing in his own back yard and also has a good record here, but we’ll be doing our utmost to spoil the party. I’m sure there will be a few twists and turns along the way and we have over 200 sponsors and guests with us to enjoy the experience.”