Perie confident of success in Spain
North motor sport with ZOE BURN
BRADLEY Perie led the north riders in Spain yesterday as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicked off its 2024 championship at Circuito de Navarra.
Kendal’s Perie, back this year in the Quattro Group British Supersport Championship, qualified third for this morning’s Sprint race after a strong first day back.
Now riding for the Gearlink Kawasaki outfit, Perie was consistently fighting at the top of the timesheets during practice before finally setting the third quickest time in qualifying, banking a best lap of 1min 39.395secs to secure a front row spot.
And it was clear to see he had his mojo back after a tough 2023. “It’s been great, everyone can see I’ve got my smile back,” he beamed last night.
“The bike is great and this is a fantastic championship. It’s absolutely brilliant to be back and I’m confident we can continue this run and pick up two good results tomorrow.”
In the main Superbike series, Blaydon racer Christian Iddon will line up in 10th position for this morning’s opening race.
Back with the Oxford Products Racing Ducati squad this year, Iddon had a solid start and as one of the leading 15 riders, made it through to the Omologato Superpole shootout yesterday afternoon.
In a dramatic session where two machines broke down and another crashed, Iddon emerged 10th fastest and will head the fourth row when today’s first race gets under way just before midday.
Glenn Irwin, aboard the Hagar PBM Racing Ducati, will be looking to keep the late Paul Bird of Penrith’s legacy alive when he starts from fourth in the newly formed team headed up by Bird’s daughter, Jordan.
Also back in the British Superbike series this year is Crook’s Franco Bourne, who made a strong start on the Rapid Honda.
In just his second season in the premier class, Bourne narrowly missed out on a place in Superpole, qualifying in 16th position. He will start the opening race from the sixth row after beating some of the bigger names in the series, including Honda’s Andrew Irwin and GR Motorsport’s Storm Stacey.
Meanwhile, South Cumbria’s DAO Racing squad looked to have a bit more work to do overnight after its new rider Danny Buchan qualified 19th – just one spot ahead of the squad’s former roads rider Dean Harrison – while his Australian team-mate Brayden Elliot will line up 25th.