POLE NUMBER TWO FOR BYRNE
Airwaves Ducati will start from pole and the second row in
round two of the British Superbike championship at Thruxton
tomorrow. Shane Byrne secured his second pole position start
of the season today with Leon Camier in 6th.
In wet conditions at the 2.35 mile Hampshire circuit both
Airwaves Ducati riders put in strong performances. Camier
pushed hard throughout the 50 minute session setting his fastest
time of 1:20.491 on lap 9 of 22. Byrne was lapping consistently
quickly and his early time of 1:20.200 looked set to place
him 3rd on the grid. However with 6 minutes left in the session
he returned to the track as the racing line began to dry setting
his fastest time of the session, 1:19.704 to take pole.
Following a tough day yesterday Leon was happier with his
performance today. “Physically I felt better this afternoon
and I am satisfied with how I have gone in qualifying. I have
a few things to work on and some wet settings to improve but
I am hoping it stays dry tomorrow. I don’t feel that
far off and I am not disappointed with my performance as I
feel there is more to come. This has been my first time out
in the wet on the Airwaves Ducati and the Pirelli’s
so 6th is good enough and as long as I get a good start in
the race I should be up there.”
Having said ahead of the session that he would be happy as
long as he was on the front row, Shane Byrne was delighted
with his second pole of the season.
“I’m really pleased but all credit has to go
to the Airwaves Ducati team. They were tricky conditions today
and we took a bit of a gamble, with 10 minutes to go I was
in 3rd and the track was in a transition period going from
wet to dry. We decided that I would go out on a softer tyre,
do one steady lap and then go for it; it was a decision that
paid off. Tomorrow I would prefer the conditions to be either
wet or dry but either way I know that the Airwaves Ducati
team have it covered.”
Qualifying Result
1. Shane Byrne – Airwaves Ducati 1:19.704
2. Leon Haslam – HM Plant Honda 1:19.872
3. Michael Rutter – North West 200 Ducati 1:19.949
4. Cal Crutchlow – HM Plant Honda 1:20.026
5. Karl Harris – Team Yamaha 1:20.372
6. Leon Camier – Airwaves Ducati 1:20.491
|
