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A lack of grip from an increasingly slick surface caused headaches throughout the British Superbike paddock at Snetterton today, with a clutch of riders struggling to get their machines on terms with the times set early on. While a batch of big bike names had secured good positions in the qualifying session leading up to the one-lap shootout, a change in track conditions left many perplexed as to where the grip had gone.
Conditions weren’t favourable when both Kiwi,Simon Crafar and his team mate, Steve Plater made their way on track for the one-chance lap that ultimately determined tomorrow’s grid positions for the brace of big bike races.
Simon Crafar was the first of the pair out – after a full two days putting in good times that would have easily secured him a second-row place Simon suffered the lack of traction and could only manage a best of ninth fastest.
‘That was tough out there. The bike feels really good but the tyre was spinning up all over the place – it was hard to get into a groove round the back section of the track because it is there that you are so dependent on outright grip for a quick time,’ Simon said.
As the afternoon session continued the track was visibly lacking grip more and more, Steve also found conditions tough, posting a best of 13th fastest. He had been consistently in the top three fastest for the past two days.
Superpole times:
1: Sean Emmett, Ducati 1m 06.394, 2: Michael Rutter, Ducati 1m 06.459, 3: Steve Hislop, Ducati 1m 06.628, 4: John Reynolds, Suzuki 1m 06.667, 5: Shane Byrne, Ducati 1m 06.709, 6: Dean Ellison, Ducati 1m 06.927, 7: Matt Llewellyn, Honda 1m 07.274, 8: Giovanni Bussei, Suzuki 1m 07.353, 9: Simon Crafar, Yamaha 1m 07.464, 10: Dean Thomas, Ducati 1m 07.470, 11: Paul Brown, Ducati 1m 07.481, 12: Gary Mason, Honda 1m 07.50, 13: Steve Plater 1m 07.586, 14: Glen Richards, Kawasaki 1m 07.632, 15: Paul Jones, Team 1m 07.890, 16: John Crawford, Suzuki 1m 07.894
