BSB Snetterton Test Results [Sat] | O’Halloran pips impressive Sykes

Jason O’Halloran has topped the first official day of British Superbike Championship (BSB) pre-season testing at Snetterton, but it was the impressive Tom Sykes chasing him in second position that stole the limelight on Saturday.

While the 34-strong BSB field had the chance to lap the Norfolk circuit in unseasonably warm conditions on Friday as part of an open session, Saturday marked the first official pre-season test, comprising three sessions over the day.

With many of the fastest laps occurring in the closing stages, McAMS Yamaha’s O’Halloran fired to the top with his very final effort with a record-breaking 1m 46.575secs lap, unseating MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes, who had been quickest through the first and second sessions.

However, an off for the Australian as he attempted to respond opened the door for new team-mate Sykes to squeeze into second place, the 2013 WorldSBK Champion adapting quickly to the electronics-free Ducati Panigale V4 R ahead of what will be his first BSB season since 2008.

Bradley Ray turned in the fourth quickest time in an encouraging debut for RICH Energy OMG Racing using Yamaha machinery for the first time, while Danny Buchan - fastest on Friday - was fifth best on the Synetiq BMW.

Rory Skinner flew the flag for Kawasaki on the retro-liveried FS-3 Racing ZX-10RR in sixth, ahead of FHO BMW’s Peter Hickman and Danny Kent, the 2015 Moto3 World Champion showing well in his first track action since the hip injury that ended his 2021 campaign in August, despite a fall as the flag came out.

Andrew Irwin and Tommy Bridewell completed the top ten, positions that will prove no mean feat heading into what promises to be a hugely competitive season brimming with quality entries. 

Among those outside the top ten were Leon Haslam, who spent his day getting to grips with the VisionTrack Kawasaki ZX-10RR and defending champion Tarran Mackenzie, who is making a steady return to action following his leg break at the top of the year.

2022 British Superbike Championship (BSB) Pre-Season Testing [26 March] | Snetterton