LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde left it until the final moments to top the times in the second Bennetts British Superbike Championship free practice session of the weekend at Donington Park.
The local man, who was also fastest in the first session earlier this afternoon, looked set to miss out on doubling up on Friday, with teammate Ryan Vickers topping the times for much of the final half of the 40-minute practice.
But his final effort, 1m27.906s was good enough to put himself just half a tenth clear of Vickers as the chequered flag dropped.
Behind the top two was BeerMonster Ducati’s Glenn Irwin, 0.075s adrift, while McAMS Yamaha rider Jason O’Halloran ensured there were three Yamahas inside the top-four again.
ROKiT BMW’s Leon Haslam was fifth once more at his home venue, 0.019s clear of Honda’s Charlie Nesbitt, with Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki’s Lee Jackson seventh and 0.079s further back.
TAG Racing Honda’s Hector Barbera was eighth, and inside the top-10 for the first time today, 0.035s ahead of the Oxford Products Racing Ducati of Christian Iddon. Jackson’s teammate Max Cook completed the session two top-10, which was covered by less than seven tenths of a second.
Championship contender Tommy Bridewell was outside the top-10 in 11th, having crashed midway through the session, with FHO Racing BMW Motorrad’s Peter Hickman in 12th, and the final rider to be seeded directly into the eBay Qualifying 2 session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park GP, Free Practice 2 results:
1. Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha), 1m27.906s
2. Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.049s
3. Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati), +0.124s
4. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha), +0.219s
5. Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad), +0.346s
6. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda by Hawk Racing), +0.365s
7. Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki), +0.444s
8. Hector Barbera (TAG Racing Honda), +0.618s
9. Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati), +0.653s
10. Max Cook (Cheshire Mouldings Kawasaki), +0.698s
11. Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati), +0.745s
12. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad), +0.770s
Click here for full results.
Bennetts BSB action resumes at Donington Park on Saturday, with the third free practice session, eBay qualifying, and then the BikeSocial Sprint Race. Tickets are available upon arrival at the venue, with free entry all weekend for children under-13 and discounts for teenagers aged 13-15. For more information, click here.