March 27, 2022

Sykes And Brookes On Record Pace At Snetterton Test

The MCE Ducati British Superbike Championship Team successfully concluded the three-day official test in great conditions at Snetterton with 2022 riders Tom Sykes and Josh Brookes both inside the top four and bettering the existing lap record.

Yorkshireman Sykes, who won the World Superbike Championship in 2013, was making his debut at the Norfolk track’s 300 configuration and gradually upped the pace for Paul Bird’s Penrith-based team to record his best time on Saturday afternoon with a 1:46.643, over half a second inside Shane Byrne’s five-year-old lap record set on a PBM Ducati.

 

Double BSB champion Brookes was also on lap record pace, topping the second session on Saturday with a best lap of 1:46.686 on the factory-supported MCE Ducati V4R, to put the Australian in fourth overall at the conclusion of today’s sessions, two of which both PBM riders sat out. 

Tom Sykes: “Day three at Snetterton saw the weather start out a bit tricky so we missed the first session this morning, but we’d only planned on doing one anyway today. We used it just to try a few things and understand the package a little bit more, but overall, it has been a really positive three-day test. We got lucky with the weather, everything seems to have gone to plan, and now I understand quite a lot more. Now we need to look where we need to improve and keep working. We have the next test at Donington Park on Thursday but looking at the forecast it doesn’t look like we are going to get as many blessings there, but the season is getting closer and after these three days I definitely feel more prepared. The main thing was to get an understanding on where we need to improve. The Ducati has a lot of strong areas and I know there are areas also to work on and so it has been a positive start at this test in that respect.”

 

Josh Brookes: “We’ve had a great test at Snetterton, the weather has been unbelievable for the time of year, and we’ve managed to work through some key points. Today was critical to finish the circle of changes. The session we did wasn’t particularly important for the lap time that we could achieve, but more the feeling that I was getting from the bike. Yesterday’s bike I was happy with, we were under the lap record, and I was able to do competitive times, today’s bike was more difficult to ride, so that gives everyone in the team a clear direction of which way to go, and I think moving forward now we can make some good progress. A big thanks to the team and my crew who put a big shift in this weekend, and we are looking forward to seeing what Donington brings us next week.”

 

John Mowatt, Team Co-Ordinator: “We have had a solid test at Snetterton, and the team and riders have made excellent progress. We had everything dialled in by Saturday evening, but we just wanted to try one more thing which we did today in the one session we competed in. We have a good direction and it’s great to see both riders with smiles on their faces. Josh has some good chassis and engine settings he’s happy with and it’s as if Tom has never been away from the team. He has slotted right in and when you consider it’s his first time on the new track at Snetterton on a bike with different electronics to what he’s used to, he’s done a fantastic job. We will see what the weather is like for Donington on Thursday and hope we can get some more positive testing in there.”

 

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, R&G Official Test, Snetterton, combined session result:

 

1.          Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 1m:46.571s

2.        Tom Sykes (MCE Ducati) +0.072s

3.         Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.098s

4.        Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +0.115s

5.         Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.164s

6.         Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.540s

7.         Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.585s

8.         Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +0.743s

9.         Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.746s

10.       Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.821s

 

The opening round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship takes place at Silverstone over the Easter weekend of 15/17 April. 

 

Images courtesy of Double Red: Josh Brookes (25) and Tom Sykes (66).

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI WRAP-UP SUCCESSFUL TESTING PROGRAMME

April 24, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team and rider Glenn Irwin have completed another successful R&G Official test at Oulton Park, with the opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship now just over a week away. Irwin and the team have spent the last two days at the Cheshire track, grabbing as much track time as possible in the final days on track before the season begins. After ending last weekend’s Donington Park test on top, the team was keen to continue to push in the final two days, working through a busy schedule and trying a host of new components and ideas. Irwin ended the test second quickest overall after clocking the best lap of Thursday afternoon’s final session, banking a 1min 33.313s lap on his last run. He leaves feeling confident about next weekend’s opening round and can’t wait to get back out. Glenn Irwin: “That’s us finished pre-season testing and I’m feeling good. We’ve been working, working, working and the bike felt better today but we still have a bit of work to do. “It’s been really, really enjoyable, we’ve tried a number of different things and I think now we’re finding a bit of a balance. Today we unlocked something in that middle session, I did a good few 33s in that run so I think we’re strong. “It’s definitely been very productive. We haven’t gone for lap times, we’ve been focussed on getting the bike right and when that happens, the lap times come. That’s what we’re starting to see and I think we’re in a good place to come back next week and start the season.” Frank Bird Jnr, Team Co-owner: “It’s a mega way to finish, this puts us in really good stead for the season and we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked off with the bike. All the boys are working well, we’ve got everyone back into the swing of things and Glenn seems to be riding well, so we’re in a good window for the first round. “It’s been a long winter but all the hard work seems to be paying off and we’re right in the mix. It means we can come here for Round One and we’re in a great place to start from.” The opening round of the 2025 Bennetts British Superbike Championship roars into action at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend, May 3-5.

IRWIN AND HAGER PBM DUCATI END SUCCESSFUL SECOND TEST ON TOP

April 19, 2025
THE Hager PBM Ducati team continued its strong testing form at Donington Park as rider Glenn Irwin once again ended the two days fastest overall. Although the team is still not concentrating on lap times, Irwin picked up where he left off at Circuito de Navarra earlier this month as he led the way on Friday before going even quicker on Day Two with an impressive fastest lap of 1min 27.015s in the final session. After a strong first test where he topped the timesheets at Navarra, the team headed to the second R&G Official test at Donington Park looking to work on a number of different things. Irwin was consistently quick across the opening day, ending Friday fastest overall with a 1:27.022sec lap in the final session to end the day at the top of the timesheets with what was the fastest ever BSB lap of the iconic track. Along with most of the pack, he opted to sit out of Saturday morning’s first session due to track conditions, heading out for the second to work through a few more things. He again shot to the top of the timesheets with a lap of 1:27.468, before later going one better in the final session to clock his new fastest ever lap. Glenn Irwin: “It’s been really good, like Navarra, we’ve continued with a plan. Yesterday we had a really, really strong bike here and conditions were a little better. Today conditions were tougher with the wind but everyone still finds a way to go fast. “We probably persevered with a bike which is suited to the final sector, perhaps Turn One as well. As the day went on I realised we were losing a bit in some places but we stuck with it. “It’s pleasing because I would say that isn’t the bike of choice for here, perhaps maybe yesterday's bike was better, but to top today feeling like that, to do a lot of laps in the 27s with improved pace on old tyres is good. The test has definitely been a success.” John Mowatt, Team Co-ordinator: “I think it’s been a positive test where we’ve confirmed a number of test items over the two days. We had slightly better conditions yesterday than today but I think we’ve ticked a lot of boxes, gone fairly quick so it’s all positive – roll on Oulton Park. “The plan there is more of the same, just keep trying to understand the new tyre, try and work with it. I think longevity is going to be the key now for Oulton Park, we’ll do a couple of race runs, see how the tyre lasts and then get ready for Round One.” The team will now prepare for the final test at Oulton Park next Wednesday and Thursday, April 23 and 24 which will be the last chance to get everything ready ahead of the first round of the 2025 season at Oulton Park over the May Bank Holiday weekend.
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