{"id":1767,"date":"2012-04-14T23:06:58","date_gmt":"2012-04-14T22:06:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/wordpress\/?p=1767"},"modified":"2012-05-07T17:35:40","modified_gmt":"2012-05-07T16:35:40","slug":"british-super-bikes-2012-round-1-brands-hatch-indy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrismaher.co.uk\/?p=1767","title":{"rendered":"British Super Bikes 2012 | Round 1 Brands Hatch Indy"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

\"BSB<\/a>
BSB Brands Hatch Testing | James Westmoreland<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Round 1 \u2013 Brands Hatch Indy \u2013 06th<\/sup> April \u2013 09th<\/sup> April 2012<\/p>\n

Author: Chris Maher, Pictures courtesy of: Chris Maher | Photography<\/pre>\n
Easter Season Opener 2012<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Qualifying<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Tyco Suzuki\u2019s Josh Brookes takes pole, for the first race of the season. After dry testing and free practice sessions, the heavens opened up to soak the track prior to qualifying. Big loser on the day was 2011 champion Tommy Hill sliding off early in the first session to start the race at the back of the field. Samsung Honda\u2019s Jon Kirkham came in second with Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki\u2019s Shane Byrne third. Performing well also in the wet conditions was MSS Bathams Kawasaki\u2019s Michael Rutter. While ex WSBK riders, Haga, Foray and Scassa made it to Q1.<\/p>\n
There was a welcome return for Rapid Solicitors Stuart Easton after a bad accident in last years NW 200, qualifying in 9th<\/sup> position.<\/p>\n
Front Row Grid<\/p>\n
    \n
  1. Josh Brookes\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tyco Suzuki\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 52.877<\/li>\n
  2. Jon Kirkham\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Samsung \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Honda\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 53.155<\/li>\n
  3. Shane Byrne\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rapid \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Solicitors Kawasaki\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 53.361<\/li>\n
  4. Tristan Palmer \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 –\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 GBmoto Racing Honda\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 53.585<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    Race 1<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
    The conditions worsened for race one of the 2012 MCE Insurance British Super Bikes. 5 riders didn\u2019t complete the first lap. The safety car was deployed several times whilst debris got cleaned up, but early leader Shane Byrne made a flying start into turn one from third position of the grid. Jon Kirkham took up the front position a quarter of the way through the race.<\/p>\n
    Two thirds of the way into the race, Samsung Honda\u2019s Jon Kirkham still had a marginal lead with Michael Rutter in second and Tyco Honda\u2019s Alistair Seeley in third. Seeley moved into first position overtaking Kirkham into Druids. Brookes made a last minute charge to match the pace of the three leaders, but slid off line a little later to finish back in tenth position. And last seasons champion Swan Yamaha\u2019s Tommy Hill dropped his bike in the later stages of the race and out of the points.<\/p>\n
    Seeley looked like he was going to win round one of the BSB, but losing rear grip on the final corner allowed Samsung Honda\u2019s Jon Kirkham to accelerate past him and over the line for the first race win.<\/p>\n
    Result<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n