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

Jason O'Halloran tops the first official day of pre-season British Superbike Championship (BSB) testing ahead of returning 2013 WorldSBK champ Tom Sykes

Jason O'Halloran - McAMS Yamaha

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

2022 British Superbike Championship (BSB) Pre-Season Testing [26 March] | Snetterton
 RiderNat.BSB TeamMotorcycleTiming
1Jason O'HalloranGBRMcAMS YamahaYamaha R11m 46.575
2Tom SykesGBRMCE DucatiDucati Panigale V4 R1m 46.643
3Josh BrookesIRLMCE DucatiDucati Panigale V4 R1n 46.686
4Bradley RayGBRRICH OMG RacingYamaha R11m 47.031
5Danny BuchanGBRSynetiq BMW MotorradBMW M 1000 RR1m 47.111
6Rory SkinnerGBRFS-3 RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 47.274
7Peter HickmanGBRFHO RacingBMW M 1000 RR1m 47.314
8Danny KentGBRBuildbase SuzukiSuzuki GSX-R1000R1m 47.317
9Andrew IrwinGBRSynetiq BMW MotorradBMW M 1000 RR1m 47.407
10Tommy BridwellGBROxford Products RacingDucati Panigale V4 R1m 47.412
11Kyle RydeGBRRICH OMG RacingYamaha R11m 47.525
12Christian IddonGBRBuildbase SuzukiSuzuki GSX-R1000R1m 47.586
13Glenn IrwinGBRHonda RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 47.772
14Lee JacksonJPNFS-3 RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 47.816
15Leon HaslamGBRLee Hardy RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 47.850
16Tarran MackenzieGBRMcAMS YamahaYamaha R11m 47.913
17Josh OwensGBRRapid CDH RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 48.043
18Ryan VickersGBRFHO RacingBMW M 1000 RR1m 48.157
19Tom NeaveGBRHonda RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 48.328
20Luke MosseyGBRTAG RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 48.426
21Takumi TakhashiAUSHonda RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 48.445
22Dan LinfootAUSiForce BMWBMW M 1000 RR1m 48.492
23Storm StaceyGBRTeam LKQ Euro Car PartsKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 48.789
24Ryo MizunoGBRHonda RacingHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 49.367
25Chrissy RouseGBRCrowe PerformanceBMW M 1000 RR1m 49.789
26Leon JeacockGBRSpecsavers SuzukiSuzuki GSX-R1000R1m 49.869
27Luke HopkinsGBRBlack Onyx SecurityHonda CBR1000RR-R1m 49.973
28Dan JonesGBRiForce BMWBMW M 1000 RR1m 50.497
29Dean HarrisonGBRDAO RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 51.041
30Liam DelvesJPNRapid CDH RacingKawasaki ZX-10RR1m 51.904
31Bjorn EstmentSWEPowerslide/Catfoss Suzuki GSX-R1000R1m 52.195
32Joe Sheldon-ShawGBRNP Racing BMWBMW M 1000 RR1m 55.155
33Sam CoxGBRNP Racing BMWBMW M 1000 RR1m 56.407
NCFraser RogersGBRiForce BMWBMW M 1000 RR