The 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship is back on track and it was Jason O'Halloran who saved his best until last in the second free practice session to head the times on the opening day at Silverstone, becoming the only rider to lap in the 53s barrier.
The McAMS Yamaha team began the session strongly with Tarran Mackenzie setting the initial benchmark ahead of Team WD-40 Kawasaki’s Claudio Corti and Scott Redding, but Josh Brookes was gaining momentum after setting the pace in FP1.
O’Halloran went to the top of the times ahead of Mackenzie and Corti with 20 minutes remaining but it was Dan Linfoot who climbed the order into second in the final five minutes for the Santander Salt TAG Yamaha team to split the McAMS Yamaha team-mates with Luke Mossey inching into the top five.
Mossey was then on the move and he moved into second, just adrift of O’Halloran who continued to improve his pace with Christian Iddon again showing the pace of the new Tyco BMW to edge into the top five.
In the final three minutes Mackenzie improved again; moving into second where he would stay until the end of the session as his team-mate had the edge with Mossey completing the top three for OMG Racing Suzuki.
Brookes held fourth place to lead the Be Wiser Ducati charge with Iddon completing the top five, pushing Linfoot into sixth with former MotoGP contender Redding and Corti in close contention with Josh Elliot and Keith Farmer completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, Free Practice 2 result:
1.Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 53.775s
2.Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.299s
3.Luke Mossey (OMG Racing Suzuki) +0.302s
4.Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.389s
5.Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.435s
6.Dan Linfoot (Santander Salt TAG Yamaha) +0.439s
7.Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.495s
8.Claudio Corti (Team WD-40 Kawasaki) +0.533s
9.Josh Elliott (OMG Racing Suzuki) +0.563s
10.Keith Farmer (Tyco BMW) +0.622s
The opening round of the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicked off at Silverstone on April 19/20/21
Pic by Double Red