British Superbikes: Shane Byrne sets Brands Hatch pace

He was tipped to be at the top this season and so far Shane Byrne hasn’t disappointed, dominating the first day of riding at Brands Hatch.

• Video: Airwaves Ducati testing in Almeria

Byrne, who has won World Superbike races at the Kent circuit as a wildcard, set the fastest times in both the morning and afternoon practice sessions today.

Shakey set a best time of 1.26.657 this afternoon, heading HM Plant Honda’s Leon Haslam in both sessions.

Byrne’s best time is just over a second off Greg Lavilla’s lap record of 1.25.235 after just two sessions on track

Haslam’s team-mate Cal Crutchlow was third fastest overall, just ahead of one of the surprise acts of the day in the shape of Karl Harris on the Team Yamaha R1.

Despite having an X-ray on his injured shoulder this week to make sure he was fit to ride, Leon Camier has shrugged off the pain to claim the fifth fastest time ahead of Ducati counterpart Michael Rutter.

And Rutter’s fifth wasn’t the only good news for the second of the Ducati teams – John Laverty piloted his virtually standard Buildbase NW200 1098R to 19th overall, the first of the Superbike Cup riders.

FREE PRACTICE TWO RESULTS

1. Shane Byrne
2. Leon Haslam
3. Cal Crutchlow
4. Karl Harris
5. Leon Camier
6. Michael Rutter
7. Simon Andrews
8. Tom Sykes
9. James Ellison
10. Stuart Easton
11. Adam Jenkinson
12. Michael Laverty
13. Scott Smart
14. Steve Plater
15. Billy McConnell
16. Guy Martin
17. Tristan Palmer
18. Atsushi Watanabe
19. John Laverty
20. Luke Quigley
21. Dean Ellison
22. Chris Burns
23. David Johnson
24. Steve Mercer
25. James Buckingham
26. Tom Tunstall
27. Martin Jessopp
28. Malcolm Ashley
29. Aaron Zanotti
30. Michael Howarth
31. Brendan Clarke