BSB: Byrne quickest at private Cadwell test

Shane Byrne led the way as a number of MCE British Superbike teams hit Lincolnshire’s Cadwell Park for a private test on Tuesday.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider clocked a quickest time of 1’26.4 under the sun at the iconic track despite a small tip off at the chicane in the afternoon.

Alongside Byrne was team-mate Glenn Irwin, who re-mounted his Ducati Panigale R for the first time since fracturing and dislocating his shoulder and elbow at Knockhill.

While Irwin was nervous at how he’d hold up at the notoriously physical circuit, the Ulsterman completed 52 laps throughout the day and was positively surprised by how he felt.

Luke Mossey and Peter Hickman were both reported to be in the high 1’26 brackets for JG Speedfit Kawasaki and Smiths BMW respectively, but it was a day to forget for the second Kawasaki of Leon Haslam who was sidelined after two mechanical failures.

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Honda Racing were also present at the test as they continue to refine the challenging new Fireblade. Off the back of his Snetterton double podium, Jason O’Halloran was the quickest of the duo with a 1’27.2. The Aussie crashed twice in the afternoon, once at Park and then at Barn in the closing moments, but both bike and rider were OK.

The second Honda of Dan Linfoot was also lapping in the 1’27s and he too took a tumble after losing the front at Chris Curve. 

Michael Laverty was bolstered by improvements he’d found with the McAMS Yamaha during the one-day test and is hopeful the team have now fixed the chatter that has been holding him back all year. While team-mate James Ellison was able to be quicker than he’s been in a test at Cadwell before, he and the team are now looking to get to the bottom of a slight gearbox issue that was holding them back. 

Lee Jackson was also on track alongside Smith’s BMW’s team-mate Peter Hickman, who spent the day working on improving feeling with his BMW S1000RR. 

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