BSB: Dixon under lap record to top opening day at Thruxton

Jake Dixon led the way as the seventh 2017 MCE British Superbike Championship got underway at the ultra-fast Thruxton circuit.

The RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki rider went under the race lap record to top the timesheets in the afternoon’s second practice session ahead of Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman.

Just a handful of riders broke into the 1’14 bracket as times tumbled in the afternoon, with Dixon’s lap of 1’14.716 some 0.2 quicker than Brookes in second.

However, it wasn’t just about outright lap time for Dixon who also impressed mid-session on used rubber.

Brookes’ second quickest time of the day came despite the Aussie unhappy with the feeling and grip he was finding on the Anvil Hire Yamaha.

Peter Hickman was third ahead of Shane Byrne, who wasn’t able to show the outright pace he had this time last year for Be Wiser Ducati.

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Luke Mossey, who topped the morning’s opening practice session, was fifth ahead of fellow young gun Lee Jackson.

Despite only lapping quick enough to place seventh on the timesheets, Leon Haslam was upbeat as he focuses on working with the harder option SC1 Pirelli rear tyre.

Christian Iddon was eighth ahead of Billy McConnell, who went second quickest this morning, with John Hopkins rounding out the top ten.

Glenn Irwin placed 11^th quickest as he continues to recover from his Knockhill injuries.

The Hondas of Jason O’Halloran and Dan Linfoot were unable to show their pace of recent rounds placing 13^th and 15^th, while the McAMS Yamaha duo also struggled with James Ellison and Michael Laverty 19^th and 25^th respectively. 

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