Rea continues lead in Brands first practice

Jonathan Rea set the pace throughout pre-season testing and was fastest in the first free practice session of the new BSB season at Brands Hatch this morning.

Rea clocked a 1:26.28, 0.45s quicker than Gregorio Lavilla’s 1:26.73 on the Airwaves Ducati. 

Despite a dirty track and cold, though sunny conditions, the times compared favourably to Lavilla’s lap record of 1:25.72s set in October 2005.

Shane Byrne was third quickest on the Stobart Honda with a 1:27.16 and BSB rookie Leon Camier impressed everyone with a 1:27.18 for the fourth fastest time on his Honda.

Chris Walker was fifth overall on the Rizla Suzuki (1:27.37) while team-mate Cal Crutchlow was down in 14th with a best lap of 1:28.72, staying on one rear tyre for the entire session while he sorted chassis set-up on both bikes.

Byrne’s team-mate Tom Sykes was sixth ahead of British champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and Virgin Media Yamaha’s Tommy Hill. Leon Haslam was only ninth after some minor technical ‘issues’ with both his Airwaves Ducatis.

Karl Harris had electrical problems with both his Hydrex Hondas and  was almost four seconds off the pace.