Mixed fortunes for Swan Yamaha at Snetterton BSB test

It was a day of mixed fortunes for Swan Yamaha at Snetterton yesterday (Wednesday) in the final BSB pre-season shakedown before the teams go to Brands Hatch next weekend for the first round of the championship on Easter Monday.

Michael Laverty topped the unofficial times, the only rider to get into the 1:48s on the new Snetterton 300 circuit while teammate Tommy Hill spent the afternoon in A&E having a damaged right elbow examined.

Hill crashed in the morning, on the exit of Riches, and doctors suggested he had damaged tendons, though he may need to have the injury re-assessed later this week once the swelling has subsided.

Laverty never put a wheel wrong all day and made only small changes in set-up to the ex-WSB factory Yamaha.

Shane Byrne was second quickest on the HM Plant Honda, testing new electronics while John Hopkins was equal third overall on the Samsung Suzuki, enjoying starting on a level playing field with his rivals on the new Snetterton layout.

Josh Brookes posted the same 1:49.2 time as Hopper. Brookes still had the benefit of testing two bikes, back-to-back.

Jon Kirkham was again impressive, only 0.3s off his former MotoGP teammate and only 0.7s off Laverty’s best.

Snetterton times
Michael Laverty, Swan Yamaha, 1:48.8
Shane Byrne, HM Plant Honda, 1:49.0
John Hopkins, Samsung Suzuki, 1:49.2
Josh Brookes, Relentless Suzuki, 1:49.2
Jon Kirkham, Samsung Suzuki, 1:49.5
Michael Rutter, Rapid Solicitors Ducati, 1:49.6
James Westmoreland, Motorpoint Yamaha, 1:49.6
Loris Baz, Motorpoint Yamaha, 1:49.7
Ryuichi Kiyonari, HM Plant Honda, 1:49.8
Stuart Easton, MSS Kawasaki, 1:49.8
Gary Mason, MSS Kawasaki, 1:50.3
Peter Hickman, Tyco Honda, 1:50.4
Tommy Hill, Swan Yamaha, 1:51.3
Martin Jessop, Rapid Solicitors Ducati, 1:52.0