Alastair Seeley leads the way on first day of BSB competition
Alastair Seeley was comfortably fastest in opening free practice ahead of the Easter Monday first round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch.
The Carrickfergus rider, aboard the Relentless Suzuki, marked his full-time graduation into the top flight with a series of consistent lap, the best of which around a drying Indy circuit came in a time of 51.117secs, an average speed of 84.41mph.
That put Seeley, the reigning National Superstock champion some 0.815secs faster than the rest, though he blotted his copybook by sliding off at Druids in the final secods of the hour long session.
“I touched the white line at the inside of the corner, which was a bit of a shame as I felt I was on for an even better time,” explained Seeley. “It is a good start to the weekend, but the downside is I’ve given the team some extra work and scuffed my new boots.”
Tommy Hill, the local favourite, ran closest to Seeley on the Worx Crescent Suzuki, just ahead of the Laverty brothers John, riding for Buildbase Kawasaki, and Michael on the second Relentless Suzuki.
The emergence of the new for 2010 “back to basics” Evo Class, providing a third of the 37 strong entry, was underlined by the speed of Loughborough rider Aaron Zanotti who powered his Red Viper Spike Suzuki into fifth place on the leaderboard with a best lap of 52.105secs, a split second up on the returning force of two times former title winner Ryuichi Kiyonari.
The Japanese rider, heading up the HM Plant Honda challenge, worked hard in the session, putting in 27 laps, but ran 0.003secs down on Zanotti. Former 125cc British Champion Luke Jones closed in on Kiyonari aboard the PR Racing Yamaha with South African Hudson Kennaugh running eighth overall, but second fastest in the Evo class for MAR Kawasaki.
James Ellison, the runner-up in last year’s title chase, ran ninth on the Swan Honda, underfire from Chris Burns who was giving Aprilia their debut outing, in Splitlath Motorsport colours, in the British series Evo class.
Simon Andrews, riding MSS Colchester Kawasaki, was just ahead of Worx Suzuki’s Yukio Kagayama, back in British action for the first time since the end of the 2004 season, but only just faster than Evo class KTM rider James Edmeades, circuit specialist Steve Mercer on a Yamaha and Doodson Honda’s Tom Tunstall.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, free practice one:
1. Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 51.117s
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.815s
3. John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +0.821s
4. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.831s
5. Aaron Zanotti (Red Viper Spike Suzuki Evo) +0.988s
6. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.991s
7. Luke Jones (PR Racing M/Cs & Moore) +1.238s
8. Hudson Kennaugh (MAR Racing Kawasaki Evo) +1.320s
9. James Ellison (Swan Honda) +1.321s
10. Chris Burns (Splitlath Motorsport Aprilia Evo) +1.660s
11. Simon Andrews (Kawasaki) +1.674s
12. Yukio Kagayama (Suzuki) + 1.710s
13. James Edmeades (KTM) + 1.753s
14. Steve Mercer (Yamaha) + 1.818s
15. Tom Tunstall (Honda) + 1.826s
16. Tommy Bridewell (Honda) + 1.896s
17. Josh Brookes (Honda) + 1.900s
18. Chris Walker (Suzuki) + 1.932s
19. Gary Mason (Kawasaki) +2.021s
20. Christian Iddon (Honda) + 2.093s
For the record
Superbike lap record: 1.1986 mile Indy circuit
Gregorio Lavilla, Ducati, 45.460secs, 94.91mph
