10/03/2010 - HM Plant Honda's Josh Brookes set the fastest time on the penultimate day of testing in Guadix today (Wednesday), waiting until late in the afternoon to edge out Tommy Hill on the Worx Crescent Suzuki.
This was the last day on track for the HM Plant Honda team before they return to the UK and Brookes set the pace this afternoon after conditions improved with a best unofficial lap time of 1m:13.6s.
Brookes and team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari both admit they are now feeling more comfortable with the new with Ohlins suspension and Motec ECU control systems after their time in Spain as they return to the UK for further testing.
Speaking after the test Brookes said: "It has been a pretty successful day for me overall. We did lose out yesterday unfortunately due to the weather but we have made some really steady progress today and I am now definitely feeling more confident about the first round at Brands Hatch. We still have a few areas that we can work on when we are back testing in the UK, like the suspension and fuelling but we are leaving here happy with the work we have done."
Unofficial overall test times from Guadix:
1. Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 1m:13.6s
2. Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:13.9s
3. James Ellison (Swan Honda) 1m:14.1s
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 1m:14.1s
5. Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) 1m:14.2s
6. Yukio Kagayama (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1m:14.8s
7. Simon Andrews (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 1m:15.8s
8. Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 1m:15.9s
Source: Participating teams unofficial times
Tickets for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship are now on sale for the Brands Hatch season opener on Easter weekend (2/3/4/5 April.) Adult tickets cost £29 for the weekend when booked in advance or £24 for raceday (Monday) with children aged 12 and under free. Limited grandstand seats are available on a first-come-first-served basis. For more information and to book call 0870 950 9000 or click on the link below.