Laverty tops times with lap record pace at Silverstone

Michael Laverty was a surprise fastest man at the end of the opening day of MCE British Superbike action at Silverstone, totally demolishing the lap record en route to holding off championship leader Josh Brookes and the JG Speedfit Kawasaki of James Ellison.

Laverty, who made substantial progress with the Tyco BMW machine at the last round at Assen that he hoped would carry forward to the similar Northamptonshire circuit, was able to lap at 2:05.370, nearly a full second faster than Josh Brookes’ 2011 lap record.

Brookes was also on an ultra fast pace, though, smashing his own record repeatedly to end the day only 0.074 behind Laverty. Ellison was nearly a half second further back, but managed to finish well clear of Shane Byrne, back in fifth.

John Hopkins, still the holder of the World Superbike lap record at the circuit, split the duo battling for second in the championship in fourth, while Luke Mossey, Jakub Smrz, and an impressive first run out on the PBM Kawasaki for Danny Buchan rounded out the top ten.