Josh Brookes on top at Thruxton

American former MotoGP rider John Hopkins, making his second appearance on the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati in place of the injured Jakub Smrz, closed to within 0.161secs of Brookes. However with five different race winners and a further three riders claiming podium finishes from the first six rounds, it isn’t an easy feat to succeed in MCE BSB!

Salisbury-based Gearlink Kawasaki are also racing on their home circuit. 161 of a second of his Australian rival.

“I have never really had a good track record at Thruxton, mainly through bad luck, and I obviously want to turn that around as it’s a circuit I like because it is so fast”.

Fans will be able to purchase tickets for the Thruxton round throughout the day at the display located on the ground floor adjacent to the Marks and Spencer and GAP stores. “I love the place as it is super fast and so much fun to ride, so it would be great to come away from Thruxton off the back of wins again as I don’t like finishing second!” To come from a track like Brands Hatch where we had a double win, to one like Thruxton has given us confidence already, so hopefully things will continue into this weekend.

Flat out “I need to ride more within myself rather than pushing too hard and crashing like I did at the last round,”said the 26 year-old, one of several BSB starts to visit West Quay yesterday”.

Shakey said: “I think the results at Brands Hatch have spurred us on even more ahead of Thruxton”.

He has a strong pedigree at the Hampshire circuit, having notched his first ever win there in 2010 while last season he won both races in the corresponding round, ahead of Byrne.

“I enjoy Thruxton as it’s quite fast so it’s flat out on the corners”.

“I’m pretty happy with the first day’s work, we started off with the setting used at Brands Hatch but were not where we expected to be”.