Hislop quickest at BSB Silverstone test

STEVE HISLOP cemented his reputation as the pre-season favourite for this season’s MCN British Superbike championship with some stunning times in testing at Silverstone yesterday.

It was the first time that the top riders have been on track together this year, though Hizzy’s MonsterMob Ducati squad didn’t fit any timing equipment in a bid to keep his rivals guessing.

However MCN discovered the 40-year-old Scot recorded a best time of 1:22.9, 0.4s quicker than nearest rival Michael Rutter on another Ducati 998RS.

Hislop said: ” We’ve been on race pace here all day although I certainly haven’t pushed it too hard. We’ve made a lot of changes to the bike to make it feel just like my old one, including switching the new 46mm forks for the 42mm ones I used last year. They give me so much feedback and I feel so comfortable with the new bike.

Rutter’s Renegade Ducati team-mate Shane Byrne was third fastest, with reigning champion John Reynolds fourth with a best of 1:23.624 on his Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000.

Official times from Silverstone:

1)M Rutter (Renegade Ducati): 1:23.299

2)Shane Byrne (Renegade Ducati): 1:23.552

3)John Reynolds(Rizla Suzuki): 1:23.624

4)John Crawford (Crescent ETI Suzuki): 1:23.709

5)Karl Harris (Rizla Suzuki): 1:24.128

6)Glen Richards (Hawk Kawasaki): 1:24.809

7)Paul Jones (Appleyard Yamaha): 1:24.865

8)Nick Medd (Crescent ETI Suzuki) : 1:26.513

9)Dean Ellison (Ducati UK): 1:26.513

10)Shane Norval (Appleyard Yamaha): 1:27.411

11)Jason Davis (TW2 Suzuki): 1:27.718

12)Lee Jackson (Jackson Honda): 1:28.797

13)Mark Burr (Hawk Kawasaki): 1:28.039

14)Gordon Blackley (DBK Honda PR Racing): 1:31.285

Unofficial times from Silverstone:

Steve Hislop (MonsterMob Ducati): 1:22.9

Steve Plater (Virgin Yamaha):1:23.7

Simon Crafar (Virgin Yamaha): 1:23.9