Brookes climbs the Cadwell mountain

Josh Brookes was impressively quick first time out at Cadwell on the HM Plant Honda in today’s BSB test.

He spent the best part of the entire day on track and clocked a best time of 1:28.1, matched only by Worx Suzuki’s Tommy Hill.

Team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari didn’t fare so well and was totally off the pace for no good reason, leaving his entire crew bemused. Kiyo, never a fan of the narrow Cadwell confines, could only manage a best of 1:31.3.

Hill’s times was impressive given his lack of track time as first gremlins again afflicted the team’s new Motec M170 electronics and then he ran into a clutch problem. Hill only did 20 laps all day.

Hill’s team-mate Yukio Kagayama was absent from the test. He flies back into the UK from Japan on Thursday.

James Ellison was also in the 1:28s on the Swan Honda, but only just with a 1:28.8 but seemed perfectly happy with his bike set-up and was just trying different electronics set-ups (just to check what worked in Spain works on a UK track) plus some suspension changes to make the bike turn quicker.

Team-mate Stuart Easton’s day ended with a crash at Charlies and a nasty gash in the back of his leg.

Alastair Seeely looked impressive on the Relentless by TAS Suzuki posting a 1:29.4, running K-Tech suspension for the first time. Michael Laverty’s day ended early with a motor problem.

He clocked a 1:29.7 and said he was well-pleased with the bike, even though he lost some track time.

Martin Jessopp and Michael Rutter continued to lap consistently on the Riders Ducatis, still gaining electronics data to ensure they get the most from their traction control systems once racing starts.

Splitlath Aprilia’s Chris Burns had a desperate day with electronics robbing him of much-needed track time. Brother Joe was on track, running the control Motec ecu for the first time.

Supermoto star Christian Iddon was continuing to do laps on the SMT Honda in order to get him up to speed on a superbike. He’s off to Oulton Park today for more track time.

Cadwell test times

Josh Brookes 1:28.1
Tommy Hill 1:28.1
James Ellison 1:28.8
Alastair Seeley 1:29.4
Stuart Easton 1:29.5
Michael Laverty 1:29.7
Martin Jessopp 1:29.8
Michael Rutter 1:29.9
Ryuichi Kiyonari 1:31.3
All times are unofficial, supplied by teams
No times available for Christian Iddon, Tom Tunstall or Joe Burns.