Shane Byrne might have set the pace for last weekend’s opening round of the British Superbike Series, but in today’s practice sessions at Thruxton it was the youngster chasing his heels in the championship who led the way. Fastest in both the wet and dry sessions, Alex Lowes and his Samsung Honda started the weekend strong and looking to build on the momentum from last weekend’s second-place finishes.
“It’s good to be fastest in both the wet and the dry, particularly the latter when I had a good run with the bike working well, though we still have some work to do,” Lowes said. “I enjoy this track with lots of sliding around because you have no traction control, it is real fun. It is enjoyable and though the times are good, it is what happens on Sunday that matters and that is what I am working towards.”
American PJ Jacobsen impressed many today by shooting up to second place in free practice two, improving his initial results (13th) from the first practice of the day. Being that his first time at the track and his first season on a Superbike, the New Yorker is proving to be a quick study in a very competitive series.
“I am very happy with the way things have gone as this circuit is all new to me, but I have learnt a lot,” Jacobsen said. “The track is fantastic for me, suiting my style as it is fast and flowing. Hopefully now we can keep this going and I am looking to at least be in the top ten this weekend, but I am taking it by step by step.”
But don’t count out Byrne on the Rapid Solicitor Kawasaki, who finished third in the faster afternoon session.
“We wanted to do a long run, more than a race distance and we’ve done that and it was pretty good,” Byrne said. “We have a lot of good information to use now over the rest of the weekend.”
Results
Free Practice One:
1. Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1:21.626
2. Keith Farmer (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1:22.311
3. Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) 1:22.632
4. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 1:22.716
5. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1:22.793
6. James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) 1:23.197
7. Peter Hickman (Llyods British GBMoto Honda) 1:23.524
8. James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1:23.619
9. Josh Waters (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1:23.769
10. Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) 1:24.091
Free Practice Two:
1. Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1:16.412
2. PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) 1:16.706
3. Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) 1:16.790
4. Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 1:17.014
5. Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) 1:17.477
6. Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) 1:17.479
7. Josh Waters (Milwaukee Yamaha) 1:17.527
8. Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) 1:17.555
9. Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) 1:17.709
10. James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) 1:17.776
