BSB: Byrne under lap record to top practice at Cadwell

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne topped the timesheets on the opening day of the eighth round of the MCE British Superbike Championship at Cadwell Park, shattering the lap record to sit 0.4 seconds ahead of his closest challenger. 

Jason O’Halloran pipped the four-time British Champion to the top spot by 0.007 seconds in the morning session, but Byrne would go on to rectify that in free practice two as he lapped four tenths under Leon Haslam’s ten-year-old lap record.

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Byrne spent the session evaluating the harder option Pirelli front tyre, which he’s yet to run with the Be Wiser Ducati this season. 

Leon Haslam led the way in the early stages of the session, but once Byrne hit the top he wasn’t to be toppled with spots of rain hampering the chances of any fast laps at the end. 

Luke Mossey was second quickest ahead for Quattro Plant Kawasaki, ahead of Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper in third. 

O’Halloran was fourth after crashing out of the session as he tucked the front at Mansfield, with local lad Lee Jackson fifth. Haslam set the sixth quickest time of the session to bounce back from a nasty crash at the top of the mountain in the day’s first session. 

Bennetts Suzuki’s Tommy Bridewell was seventh fastest ahead of Christian Iddon on the Tyco BMW with James Ellison and Jake Dixon rounding out the top ten. 

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