The first round of the 2008 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch, Kent, was abandoned today (6th April), due to unseasonably heavy snowfall. As a result of extensive efforts on the part of series organiser MotorSport Vision Racing, the round has been rescheduled to take place over the weekend of 10/11 May. The grid positions for all classes will be as of final qualifying positions set on Saturday 5 April.
Shane Byrne secured the first pole position of the season onboard the Airwaves Ducati at his local circuit (5 April). The Kent rider dominated proceedings posting near lap record times as he headed all three Free Practice sessions and Saturday afternoon’s 50-minute Qualifying.
Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) led the charge to topple Shane Byrne from the head of the leader board, posting his fastest lap time of 1:26.364 mid-way through the session. This proved to be the fastest-ever time that the Pirelli-shod Rob Mac Racing Yamaha YZF-R1 had circulated the 2.3mile track. Harris looked set on second position until HM Plant Honda rider, Cal Crutchlow’s blistering pace elevated the 2006 British Supersport Champion into second as the chequered flag dropped. Team-mate, Leon Haslam rounded out the front row.
Further down the field, Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki), Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati), Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/ Lloyds British) and Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) fought hard to claim starting places on the second row of the grid with just three tenths of a second splitting the four riders’ times.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship debutante, Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) and Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki By TAS) rounded out the top ten setting the scene for an exhilarating debut Pirelli exclusive Superbike race.
The riders will now move on to round 2 at Thruxton (18-20 April), where Pirelli secured its first Superbike pole, and fastest ever two-wheeled lap of the Hampshire circuit at the hands of the Pirelli-shod Tommy Hill In 2007.
Qualifying Result:
1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) – 1:25.832
2. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) – 1:26.155
3. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing) – 1:26.364
4. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) – 1:26.552
5. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) – 1:26.641
6. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) – 1:26.833
7. Simon Andrews (Jentin Racing/Lloyds British) – 1:26.926
8. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) – 1:26.974
9. Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) – 1:27.893
10.Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki By TAS) – 1:27.937
Related Links:
www.pirelli-moto.com
