Cal Crutchlow will defy the pain from his injured right ankle to keep his Bennetts British Superbike title bid on track at Brands Hatch but the HM Plant Honda rider faces a tough challenge from the series leading Shane Byrne.
The Airwaves Ducati rider starts the races from pole postion, having topped the qualifying leaderboard ahead of the snow aborted opening round last month, and that position has been carried forward to this ‘round one – take two.’
Byrne had lapped then in a time of 1m 25.832secs and again he was the rider topping the free practice leaderboard at the sun-drenched Kent grand prix circuit, with a lap of 95.03mph, just 0.159secs up on HM Plant Honda rider Leon Haslam who starts from third place on the grid.
Haslam is playing catch-up in the title stakes, having effectively had two non-finishes in the four races so far, to be a massive 62 points down on Byrne in the standings, with the 24 year old Derbyshire rider determined to enjoy the winner’s champagne for the first time this season.
Byrne however remains confident: “I’m really happy – the team around me is doing a great job and I have the easy job of riding the bike. Doing the double last time out at Oulton Park was good, and I will be trying hard for the same here.
“It is too early to start thinking about the championship,” added Byrne who leads the chase 95-56 over his team-mate Leon Camier. “It is a case of concentrating on things race by race, trying to win as many as I can, enjoying the racing and being on the podium as frequently as possible.”
Cal Crutchlow, who lines up between his team-mate Haslam and Byrne, is keen to make up lost ground after crashing heavily in the Holiday Monday round at Oulton Park, dislocating his right ankle and also damaging ligaments.
“It felt uncomfortable out there, really sore but I am giving it my all. Being able to ride is a bonus – I’m here to ride, I’m here to win, and I am confident that I can be at the front,” said the 22 year old Coventry rider who despite his discomfort was barely three quarters of a second down on Byrne.
The front row is completed by Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes, with Camier heading the second row ahead of Simon Andrews on the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha, North West 200 Ducati rider Michael Rutter and Japanese ace Atsushi Watanabe.
James Buckingham, riding the Quay Garage Honda, heads the qualifying for the Daily Star Cup race within a race, a split second ahead of series leading John Laverty, who took a tumble from his BuildbaseNW200 Ducati, without injury during the second free practice session.
Superbikes on Track
Sunday 11th May10.25-10.40: warm-up practice
13.15: Race one
16.20: Race two
Superbikes on Television
British Eurosport 2
Sunday 11th May 1300-1430: LIVE Superbike race one & support race
1515-1700: LIVE Supersport & Superbike race two
1900-2030: Highlights
Monday 12th May
1430-1600 Highlights
Tuesday 13th May
1845-2015 Highlights
Thursday 15th May 2115-2215 Bennetts British Superbikes Extra
Tuesday 20th May
1900-2030 Highlights
Sunday 25th May1200-1330 Highlights
Channel 4
Wednesday 14th May01.10-02.05 Highlights
