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SBK, BSB Cadwell Park: Vickers awesome in FP2, O'Halloran 3 tenths behind

Ryan Vickers sets a new track record in British Superbike second free practice session at Cadwell Park, ahead of Jason O'Halloran and Peter Hickman. 4th Tommy Bridewell, best of the Ducatis, 10th Josh Brookes. In Q1 Tarran Mackenzie and Xavi Forés

SBK: BSB Cadwell Park: Vickers awesome in FP2, O'Halloran 3 tenths behind

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Youngster Ryan Vickers set the pace in the BSB second free practice session on the fascinating and historic Cadwell Park track (venue for the sixth round of the season), which was characterized by sudden changes at the top of the timesheets. It was a record performance in which the Lee Hardy Racing man finished some way ahead of his rivals in the top class of the UK championship, leaving championship leader Jason O'Halloran 0.312s behind and FP1 leader Peter Hickman at half a second at the end of the day on Friday.

Record-breaking Vickers

 

Coming directly into BSB as 2018 SuperStock 600 winner as well as Lee Hardy's gamble as replacement for Jake Dixon (who will be alongside Valentino Rossi in MotoGP at Silverstone), the 22-year-old has had a somewhat up-and-down two-year debut in BSB. Still looking for the first podium in his career, after his positive results at Thruxton and Donington Park, today he had the satisfaction of topping the timesheets: after bolting on the new tyre at the end of the session, Vickers set an awesome time of 1’25.816 that no-one could get near to. The rear SCX obviously did its job, but his rivals will already be wondering where it came from as no one had ever managed to break through the '26 barrier at the Lincolnshire circuit.

O’Halloran back up front, Hickman confirms his form

 

After a morning spent regaining confidence with the ups and downs of Cadwell Park, Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) was back as incisive as usual, finishing second ahead of Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW), on form both in his time attack and over the distance. In fourth position was Tommy Bridewell (MotoRapido Ducati), who lead for long periods of the session, ahead of his brand mate Christian Iddon (VisionTrack PBM Ducati) and Andrew Irwin, the only TAS Racing rider present following the injury to Danny Buchan in last Sunday’s crash.

9 riders in 1 second

 

While Vickers and the RAF-branded Ninja ZX-10RR made all the difference, the ranking still offers minimal gaps behind in the pack. Seventh was Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing), eighth Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing), ninth Bradley Ray (OMG Racing) and tenth Josh Brookes (VisionTrack PBM Ducati), all in just one tenth. In terms of qualifying, Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing) and Dan Linfoot (TAG Racing) also gained access to the decisive Q2, edging out Gino Rea. On the other hand, Tarran Mackenzie (who crashed without consequences at Mountain) and Xavi Forés (slowed down by some technical problems in his M1000RR) will have to go through Q1.

The BSB riders and teams will be back on track again tomorrow morning, at 11:45 am (Italian time), for FP3. In the early afternoon “Superpicks Qualifying” will be at 15:05, while Race 1 gets underway at 18:00.

FP2 RESULTS:


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