It’s been a quite brilliant day at Snetterton for multi International roads royalty members, who have opened their BSB support, BSB feature Championship round two accounts in ultra positive fashion.
Superbike:
Superbikes wise, Championship leader Glenn Irwin showed accomplished, consistent form on route to finishing 6th quickest in first free practice.
Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman who experienced a pretty challenging time at Donington Park, registered a best lap time of 1 minute 51.504 seconds, which placed him 14th fastest from this afternoon’s timed competition.
ON1 Racing’s Brian McCormack, 27th fastest, completed no less than 19 laps as he continues to build up his pace, confidence of the Norfolk based Snetterton circuit.
Superstock:
Moving onto the Superstock scene, we can’t but not first focus on Honda Racing’s Davey Todd. Fifth fastest in FP1, free practice session two saw him emerge number one on the time screens, thanks to a very impressive lap time of 1 minute 53.244 seconds.
Photo by Gary Howlett
Aside from reigning IRRC Superbike Champion Todd, added prominent pure road racers showing solid Superstock pace included 16 times TT winner Ian Hutchinson, 2019 Senior TT victor Dean Harrison, Stephen Smith, Damon Rees and PRL Racing’s Sam West making a return to BSB focused action.
Supersport:
Supersport wise, Ashcourt Racing’s Lee Johnston carried on his great form from the Barry Sheene Classic, impressing hugely during opening practice sessions.
Fastest in FP1 (free practice 1), the second middleweight class practice stint saw the ex World Supersport, nine times International road race victor finish third quickest, just 0.136 behind Championship pace setter Rory Skinner.
Overall quickest within FP1, ninth quickest in FP2, 24 times North West 200 winner Alastair Seeley looked in great shape on route to setting the British GP2 class pace.
Superstock 600:
Binch Racing’s Adam McLean once again caught the eye with his consistent pace, as he again showed his ability to mix it with many of the fancied National Superstock 600 Championship front runners.
9th fastest in opening practice, the second timed practice stint saw McLean (1.57.048) almost nudge under the 1 minute 57 seconds barrier, jumping up to fourth on the times sheet.
Ducati TriOptions Cup:
Real roads representatives within the Ducati TriOptions Cup, Immingham’s Craig Neve and 23 times TT winner John McGuinness both quietly chipped away with their pace in windy but dry conditions at Snetterton.
Neve, McGuinness respectively 6th, 8th quickest from opening timed practice both cannot be discounted from contending as at the last round for more prominent results on Saturday and Sunday.
British Sidecar Championship:
The only class to undertake a qualifying session today were the traditionally crowd pleasing, always entertaining, hugely popular F1/F2 Sidecars.
TT, Southern 100 greats in action included second quickest in qualifying, Tim Reeves. Reeves joined for this weekend’s competition by Kevin Rousseau, was only 0.242 off securing pole position for the 12, 10 lap Molson Group British Sidecar races.
Sixth quickest behind Reeves/Rousseau were improving TT racers Lewis Blackstock/Patrick Rosney whilst Silicone Barnes Racing team mates John Holden/Jake Lowther qualified eighth just ahead of the all conquering Birchall brothers Ben & Tom.
Words by Stevie Rial