Haslam tops first day at Oulton

Leon Haslam topped the afternoon session at Oulton Park in practice for Bank Holiday Monday’s fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship.

Haslam, still badly bruised from his 174mph crash in practice for last weekend’s Silverstone races, set a best time of 1:35.87 on the Airwaves Ducati, just three thousandths of a second quicker that second place Jonathan Rea on an HM Plant Honda.

Shane Byrne was third quickest with a 1:36.01 on the Stobart Honda and BSB points leader Gregorio Lavilla was fourth with a 1:36.16 on his Airwaves Ducati.

Oulton lap record holder and defending BSB Champion Ryuichi Kiyonari was only fifth quickest with a 1:36.34, well outside his own record of 1:35.43.

Stobart Honda’s Tom Sykes, Tommy Hill on the Virgin Yamaha and Karl Harris with the Hydrex Honda completed the top eight.  But Rizla Suzuki pair Cal Crutchlow and Chris Walker were ninth and 11th, still working towards getting comfortable with the Rizla Suzuki. 

Leon Camier was down in tenth on the Bike Animal Honda, after some brake problems in the first session meant he spent the second session playing catch-up on basic chassis set-up.