Jonathan Rea dominated free practice ahead of the penultimate round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, running fastest in each of the two sessions, at Silverstone, and bettering the record by a third of a second. The Red Bull Honda rider had lapped the 2.213 mile International circuit at an average speed of 92.74mph during the morning and all but matched that in the afternoon, when his best time was 1m 25.928secs.
“I think I have an evens chance of a podium finish,” smiled the modest 19 year old from Ballyclare, adding: “It’s a good track to race at; it’s nice and wide, fast and has lots of run-off. We should go well and I’m looking forward to the races.”
Rea, still seeking maiden race winning glory in the top flight is currently fifth in the overall standings which are led by Leon Haslam, riding the Airwaves Ducati. He was running third best, a quarter of a second down, as he prepared for races that could be crucial to his hopes of taking the title for the first time.
The winner of two of the previous three races, the 22 year old Derbyshire rider has opened up a 15 points lead, and he is anxious to further extend this, ahead of next month’s double points finale at Brands Hatch.
“I will be working really hard to continue my recent run of form here and I am feeling pretty confident. I scored a double podium here last year and the team got a one-two so I think we will be competing strongly for top podium spots.
“I am delighted to be leading the championship and I can’t wait for the races,” smiled Haslam, who first has high hopes of clinching the Audi Performance Award, which rewards consistent speed in qualifying. If Haslam claims pole start, then the £50,000 limited edition Audi S4 Special Edition Cabriolet will be his.
That would be a bonus ahead of the main business of chasing victories in the two 20 lap races in which he is certain to be under fire from both his team-mate, the reigning champion Gregorio Lavilla and HM Plant Honda rider Ryuichi Kiyonari.
The 23 year old Japanese rider was marginally faster than Haslam in practice, lapping in 1m 26.028secs, while Lavilla ran seventh with a best time of 1m 26.823secs, although the Spaniard was not too concerned, as he worked on the race setting of his bike, which, like Haslam’s is sporting a black livery, promoting the sponsor’s new Airwaves Black Mint chewing gum.
Tommy Hill, riding the Virgin Mobile Yamaha, set fourth best time, just ahead of Karl Harris, riding the second HM Plant Honda and former champion Shane Byrne on the Rizla Suzuki.
Michael Rutter, eighth best, was a split second down on Lavilla but ahead of his Stobart Honda team-mate Michael Laverty, with a trio of Australians closing in on them. Billy McConnell, with a lap of 1m 27.401secs, was the best of them, with Glen Richards and Dean Thomas completing the top twelve.
Chris Martin, the Yorkshireman aboard the PR Branson Honda, looks set to move closer to winning the British Superbike Cup after running a second faster than Marshall Neill and Marty Nutt in the category for independent teams and riders.
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