Shane Byrne upstaged the Bennetts British Superbike title chasing trio of Ryuichi Kiyonari, Jonathan Rea and Leon Haslam as he shattered the record at Brands Hatch in free practice ahead of the double race finale.
The former champion began his career, over a decade earlier, on the short, fast, 1.1986mile Indy Circuit, on a winning note, and now the Stobart Vent Axia Motorsport Honda rider is well placed to continue that speed and style.
He lapped in 45.691secs, an average speed of 94.43mph, in a late charge that took him ahead of HM Plant Honda rider Rea, but by only 0.080secs.
“Things are going well, so now I’m hoping to built on that, especially as this is my local circuit where everyone expects me to go well - it's the first place I ever raced so it's really special for me. I'll certainly be going for the wins,” said Byrne.
His speed causes problems for both Rea, who starts these races 37 points down on his team-mate Kiyonari, and Haslam, who is a further four points down. For both of them, there is only one option in their efforts to keep their title drive on track – they have to win both races to keep the pressure on their Japanese rival.
Kiyonari, who has amassed no less that nine race victories so far, is taking nothing for granted, having painful memories of the penultimate round at Donington when he tumbled, the innocent victim of someone else’s crash.
He hit back then, taking third place in the second race at the Leicestershire circuit, and he goes into these race knowing that a fourth place finish in the opener would be just champion, or even a pair of eighth places would suffice.
“Bike is good and I like more race wins, but also want the title,” said Kiyonari who will not be taking any unnecessary risks and Rea is the first to admit that although mathematically the title is still open for him, it is a long shot: “I know that it has not gone away from me, and I don’t wish anything on Kiyo but unless he has a bad day it looks his.”
Rea will be on the charge, as will Airwaves Ducati rider Haslam, sixth fastest, but barely a third of a second down on Byrne. He is full of confidence following his winning double in the penultimate round.
“Those victories have put me back into contention and now It is important for me to win here. There’s a very good chance that I can more ahead of Jonny and taken runners-up spot, and still there is an outside chance of the title. The way things have gone in first practice, I’m feeling good,” said Haslam.
Other riders are sure to be involved in the front running duels, with Gregorio Lavilla, the title winner of two years ago, looking strong aboard the Airwaves Ducati, while Cal Crutchlow is long overdue a first victory on the Rizla Suzuki, running marginally faster in free practice than Hydrex Honda’s Karl Harris and the talented Tom Sykes on the second Stobart Honda.
James Buckingham, battling to regain the British Superbike Cup, was the fastest of the privateers, with a time of 47.157secs aboard the Quay Garage Honda, ahead of Neil Faulkner, Tom Tunsall and Tristan Palmer.
Top Ten Free Practice Times- S Byrne - Stobart Honda - 45.691 secs
- J Rea - HM Plant Honda - 45.771 secs
- G Lavilla - Airwaves Ducati - 45.787 secs
- R Kiyonari - HM Plant Honda - 45.848 secs
- C Crutchlow - Rizla Suzuki - 45.902 secs
- L Haslam - Airwaves Ducati - 45.964 secs
- K Harris - Hydrex Honda - 46.084 secs
- T Sykes - Stobart Honda - 46.221 secs
- C Walker - Rizla Suzuki - 46.581 secs
- M Rutter - Isilon Kawasaki - 46.626 secs
