Motourage

Relentless Suzuki’s BSB rookie Alastair Seeley posted the third-fastest time in today’s Roll for Pole qualifying at Brands Hatch, giving the current British Superstock champion a debut front row starting position for the opening race on the 2010 British Superbike calendar.

Alastair Seeley

Team-mate Michael Laverty was also well to the fore all weekend in free practice and qualifying, eventually posting the seventh fastest time, taking an equally impressive row two start for the Easter Monday season opener.

Such was the pace in qualifying today at Brands Hatch on the Indy Circuit, the top five riders all dipped inside the BSB pole time from 2009.

Alastair Seeley
“It was a good start for us today and everything was working well with our GSX–R Superbike. We are just making baby steps at the minute, but to give credit to the team, the bike was never a million miles away when we got here, as I showed by going fastest in the wet. All the data from last year has been invaluable although I could have done without the little slip off on day one – but I suppose that’s what happens at this level. I enjoyed the Roll for Poll qualifying especially the third session when I got a clear track and a new tire in and was able to pull the pin. It’s also been encouraging to see P1 on the pit board at times over the weekend, but tomorrow I’m just looking for solid finishes and some points on the board.”

Michael Laverty
“We’ve had to overcome an intermittent electrical problem with the bike cutting out which is frustrating, although I’m not too worried about qualifying seventh as we have a good race set-up. We have been good and strong all weekend but in Roll for Pole Q3 I got a less than perfect tire, which I had to come in and change. I jumped from 10th to 7th right at the end with one clean lap; if I’d been able to get another couple I know I could have shaved some more time off. Hopefully we will have the problem sorted for tomorrow and we can make the best of all the hard work.”

Philip Neill – BSB Team Principal
“No matter what happens tomorrow I think we have now established ourselves among the pre-season favorites in BSB. It was interesting to read all the pre-season hype, and to be honest, not being listed suited us just fine. We have gone about our business quietly and confidently today and while we probably slipped under the radar, we have also been very consistent from Friday. Alastair started the weekend off in fine style going almost a second quicker than anyone in the wet on his Relentless by TAS Suzuki, and both he and Michael have been well to the fore in all sessions which have produced a mixture of conditions. That’s also very satisfying. Both of our riders should be equally pleased with their work today and Suzuki has also proved the strength of the GSX–R package with two riders on the front row and four in the top eight. In saying that, the real test starts tomorrow, but both guys are good starters and we will be looking for top six finishes.”