Karl Harris maintained his dominant form across all five free practice sessions ahead of the Easter Monday opening round of the ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with Pirelli at Brands Hatch but he was only a split second ahead of Leon Camier when rain spoiled the duel between them.
Riding the Hydrex Honda, Harris had responded to a flying lap by his Airwaves Yamaha rival Camier by clocking the best time of the weekend so far, 46.435secs, an average speed of 92.92mph, minutes before the rain.
“The bike is going well and I’m able to put in consistent laps so everything is looking good but there is still work to be done, and I am not one to make predictions, although it would be good to enjoy my first win in this series,” said Harris whose team-mate Stuart Easton ran third fastest.
Camier, who had not ridden his all-new bike until Friday, was delighted with his progress. “Things are going really well – to get into the top ten was my aim, to be second is great.
“I didn’t expect that. I feel really comfortable with the bike and we are still working through settings. There is amazing potential to be realised,” added the Airwaves Yamaha rider.
Glen Richards, aiming to complete a hat-trick of titles, having won the Superstock and Supersport titles in the past two seasons was well on the pace aboard the HM Plant Honda, running just ahead of his ‘stand-in’ team-mate Steve Plater.
The Lincolnshire rider is deputising for Aussie Josh Brookes who is still awaiting his visa to enter the country – Plater who had taken a heavy tumble during Friday’s session escaped unscathed and amid a busy weekend is also well placed for glory in the opening round of the Fuchs Silkolene British Supersport Championship having set third best time in first qualifying.
Sylvain Guintoli, the Frenchman who has switched from MotoGP to head up the Worx Crescent Suzuki challenge ran sixth best with a time of 46.802secs, just ahead of Gary Mason, the leading rider in the Mirror.co.uk Cup, a race within a race for Privateers, who recorded a time of 46.947secs on the Quay Garage Honda.
Julian da Costa continued his consistent style running with a best time of 46.947secs aboard the MSS Colchester Kawasaki while Chris Walker, the four times former runner-up in the title chase, completed the top ten on the Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha.
Ian Lowry closed in on them despite taking a battering in a tangle on Friday when he clipped the back of Tom Tunstall’s Hardinge Doodson Honda. The Relentless Suzuki suffered ankle and leg injuries, while his team worked late into the night to repair his bike – the Ulsterman repaid their efforts, riding through the pain, with a best lap of 47.302secs.
ViSK British Superbike Championship in association with PirelliTop ten times overall in Free Practice 1. Karl Harris, Hydrex Honda, 46.435secs, 92.92mph2. Leon Camier, Airwaves Yamaha, 46.506
3. Stuart Easton, Hydrex Honda, 46.700
4. Glen Richards (Aus), HM Plant Honda, 46.750
5. Steve Plater, HM Plant Honda 46.754
6. Sylvain Guintoli (Fr) Worx Crescent Suzuki, 46.802
7. Gary Mason, Quay Garage Honda, 46.947
8. Julien da Costa (Fr) MSS Colchester Kawasaki 46.990
9. Chris Walker, Motorpoint Henderson Yamaha 47.047
10. Jon Kirkham, Jentin Yamaha, 47.072
(All riders GB except where stated)
