Croft British Superbikes: HM Plant Honda head FP3

HM Plant Honda team-mates Leon Haslam and Cal Crutchlow have topped this morning’s final British Superbike practice session in damp conditions at Croft.

Heavy rain overnight has meant a drying track for this morning and riders having to make the switch from wets to slick tyres during the 50-minute session.

There was a half hour delay early in the session when BSB debutant Jason O’Halloran’s SMT Honda blew at the Complex and the Australian rider unknowingly trailed oil around the first section of the 2.13-mile circuit.

After circuit marshals cleared the track the session was restarted in improving conditions, allowing Haslam to set a best of 1.25.233 in the final moments.

Crutchlow followed closely with a 1.26.117 ahead of yet another Honda outfit, James Ellison.

Michael Laverty put some clutch problems of yesterday behind him to complete the top four ahead of impressive performances by Chris Burns on his Daily Star Cup MV Agusta, Guy Martin on the second of the Hydrex Bike Animal Hondas and David Johnson on the Maxxis Honda.

Shane Byrne didn’t make an appearance during the session, deciding to sit the morning practice out after injuring his left shoulder and losing a tooth after highsiding yesterday.

Members of the Airwaves Ducati team did communicate to MCN that the current championship leader will be out on track for this afternoons F1-style qualifying.

Second Airwaves man Leon Camier was kitted-up but chose to sit out the session, and yesterday’s fastest man in FP2, Tom Sykes, completed just two laps this morning.

CROFT BRITISH SUPERBIKES FREE PRACTICE 3 RESULTS

1. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 1.25.233
2. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 1.26.117
3. James Ellison Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 1.26.698
4. Michael Laverty Relentless Suzuki 1.28.200
5. Chris Burns STP Superbike MV Agusta 1.28.816
6. Guy Martin Hydrex Bike Animal Honda 1.28.846
7. David Johnson Maxxis Honda 1.28.892
8. Simon Andrews Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha 1.29.132
9. Tristan Palmer Tena for Men Honda 1.29.290
10. Tom Tunstall Hardinge Ice Valley Honda 1.30.311
11. Michael Rutter North West 200 Ducati 1.30.434
12. Jason O’Halloran SMT Honda 1.30.478
13. Aaron Zanotti Red Viper Honda 1.31.172
14. Atsushi Watanabe Rizla Suzuki 1.31.436
15. Scott Smart Hawk Kawasaki 1.31.725
16. Martin Jessopp Riders Honda 1.33.363