Byrne sets rapid pace
SHANE BYRNE, the leader in the chase for the MCE British Superbike crown, set the pace in free practice ahead of tomorrow’s eighth round at Cadwell Park.
He charged his Be Wiser Ducati to a best lap of 1min 26.291secs lap of the Lincolnshire circuit where he aims to extend his 25-point lead over Leon Haslam.
He bounced back from a tumble in the opening session to set the sixth best time of 1min 27.665secs aboard his JG Speedfit Kawasaki but has work to do to match the pace of Byrne.
Luke Mossey came closest to Byrne with a lap of 1min 26.690secs aboard his Quattro Plant Kawasaki, which was marginally faster that Buildbase BMW’s Richard Cooper.
Australian Jason O’Halloran – riding the locally prepared Honda – slid off but still ran fourth fastest.
The limping Tyke deserved his soothing after-match bath after his 89 helped Eoin Morgan’s men to a four-wicket victory in the second ODI.
Root, ranked seventh in the ICC ODI batting rankings, shrugged off a damaged ankle and bruised left thigh to have the last laugh over Pakistan and ensure England take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Root said: “It was important I stayed there for most of the innings after we lost those early wickets and this is another good win.
“The ankle is all right and I will be okay for Trent Bridge on Tuesday. It was a nasty collision at the time but fortunately it didn’t turn out bad.”
Just when England were showing early innings nerves chasing 252 for victory, Root limped to the rescue along with captain Eoin Morgan.
He had been left in agony during Pakistan’s 251 all out off 49.5 overs when he collided with Adil Rashid as the two teammates raced to take a catch.
Root got to it first and somehow held on despite crashing into Rashid with the pair left lying on the ground. Root clutched his ankle but was able to continue.
He was left hobbling during his own knock when a delivery from fast bowler Mohammad Amir struck him above the thigh pad. But Root, as he has done so many