Danny Buchan Leads The Way On The First Day Of Testing For The Bennetts British Superbike First Testing Schedule Of The 2022 Season.

The Norfolk circuit of Snetterton has accommodated the first testing schedule of the 2022 season for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, along-side all the supporting classes. It was perfect weather conditions for day one. Today the Superbike class and a few Pirelli National Superstock and British Supersport riders had the circuit to themselves as the supporting classes join in the testing action from Saturday 26th March.

New signing for Builbase Suzuki Christian Iddon was one of the first riders to get out on track followed by fellow Suzuki man Powerslide Racing’s Bjorn Estment. Honda’s rookie Tom Neave was eager to get out on his CBR1000RR-R Fireblade with team mates Ryo Mizuno and Takumi Takahashi.

An hour into the session it was MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes who was leading the way in first position, his all-new team-mate Tom Sykes had yet to put a lap in. The session was Red Flagged after one hour 30 minutes due to FS-3 Racing’s Rory Skinner crashing at Palmer, fortunately the young Scottish rider was ok.

As the session got under-way again it was FHO Racing’s Peter Hickman in the top spot with Lee Hardy Racing Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam in second place and Brookes in third place. SYNETIQ BMW’s Danny Buchan topped the time sheets after two hours of track time, just 0.230s in front of Brookes.

Tom Sykes had a late start to proceedings, the Huddersfield rider did an out lap and returned to the pits. McAMS Yamaha and RICH Energy OMG riders were also yet to come out of the pits and set a lap time.

Once the reigning 2021 Bennetts British Superbike champion got out on the tarmac he was up-to 20th position after competing five laps, Sykes was in 16th place after 10 laps. Hickman was taking charge at the top again from Iddon and Brookes. Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell was in fifth place just ahead of Honda’s Glenn Irwin and Kawasaki’s Storm Stacey.

With one hour remaining to the morning session it was Red Flagged due to Ian Hutchinson crashing at Palmer, Ian was taken to the Medical Centre for a check up. The morning session ended with Danny Buchan in first place from Hickman and Iddon in second and third place respectively.

As the afternoon session got under-way it was FHO Racing’s Ryan Vickers who was in first place, Rory Skinner in second place and RICH Energy OMG’s Bradley Ray in third place. Vickers held on to the top spot until Buchan reclaimed first position after completing 10 laps, beating his morning session lap time by 0.956s. Iddon was in third place in front of McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran, FS-3 Racing’s Lee Jackson was on the move in fifth place.

The session was Red Flagged with just over an hour to go, due to PR Racing’s Dan Jones crashing at Brundle, Dan was taken to the Medical Centre. The session was resumed with Buchan, Brad Ray and Tarran Mackenzie leading the way, until the Red Flag was brought out again due to Honda’s Ryo Mizuno crashing at Riches. Tom Sykes was moving up the order in second place followed by Ray and Buildbase Suzuki’s Danny Kent who was in fourth place.

At the checkered flag Danny Buchan finished the first day of testing in first place, Brad Ray was second, Hickman was third, Skinner finished in fourth place, O’Halloran was fifth. Iddon rounded out the top 10 with Sykes just in front of the Stockport rider in ninth place. Reigning champion Mackenzie finished in 13th place.

Featured Images: MCE Ducati, Tommy Bridewell Racing, McAMS Yamaha, Iforce BMW PR Racing, SYNETIQ BMW.