Irwin edges towards lap record in FP3

Full BSB FP3 results at Thruxton

Glenn Irwin has sent out a warning to his Bennetts British Superbike championship rivals ahead of qualifying at Thruxton by producing close to lap-record pace on the Be Wiser Ducati.

The Northern Irish rider notched up a 1m 14.821s on his penultimate lap of the final practice session at the Hampshire circuit to bolt clear of the chasing pack by over four-tenths of a second with Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon impressing to take second place.

The Thruxton BSB lap record his currently held by Irwin's injured PBM team-mate Shane Byrne, who set a 1m 14.753s on the Ducati in 2016, which could be under threat depending on track temperatures in this afternoon's qualifying.

RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon also produced a late improvement to move up to third place on the FP3 times but could have gone quicker having set the best first sector time of anyone on his final lap only to abort the lap by pitting.

Luke Mossey, who claimed his maiden BSB podium at Thruxton back in 2016, also impressed late on for JG Speedfit Kawasaki with fourth place ahead of Honda’s Jason O’Halloran.

After losing his best time from FP2 for cutting the chicane, Tarran Mackenzie recovered in the final practice session to take sixth place for McAMS Yamaha in front of Friday’s fastest rider Peter Hickman on the Smiths Racing BMW.

BSB title contenders Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) and Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) were shuffled down the order after opting not to go for a late time attack with Andrew Irwin rounding out the top ten on the Be Wiser Ducati.