Hill tops Croft BSB practice

Tommy Hill ignored the pain from his injured shoulder to post the fastest time in free practice today at Croft in preparation for Sunday’s third rounds of the MCE British Superbike championship.

The Swan Yamaha rider damaged his left shoulder in a crash at Oulton Park two weeks ago and was riding at Croft with the injury strapped up but that didn’t stop him posting the fastest time in this afternoon’s session of 1:20.76.

But it’s tight at the top of the leaderboard with Michael Rutter second quickest on the Rapid Solictors Ducati, just 0.042s off Hill’s best time and Michael Laverty third, 0.088s of his Swan Yamaha team-mate.

Stuart Easton was fourth quickest on the MSS Kawasaki while Motorpoint Yamaha’s Loris Baz completed the top five in the 1.20s bracket.  Croft newcomer John Hopkins completed the top six on the Sumsung Suzuki.

BSB points leader and HM Plant Honda rider Shane Byrne was ninth quickest while his team-mate and defending BSB champion Ryuichi Kiyonari was struggling down in 15th.

Times:
Free practice 2
1 T. Hill, Swan Yamaha, 1:20.763
2 M. Rutter, Rapid Solicitors Ducati 1:20.806
3 M. Laverty, Swan Yamaha 1:20.851
4 S. Easton, MSS Colchester Kawasaki 1:20.932
5 L. Baz, Motorpoint Yamaha 1: 20.985
6 J. Hopkins, Samsung Crescent Racing 1:21.203
7 J. Westmoreland, Motorpoint Yamaha 1:21.253
8 J. Brookes, Relentless Suzuki 1: 21.282
9 S. Byrne, HM Plant Honda 1:21.285
10 P. Hickman, Tyco Honda 1:21.285