Smiths BMW’s Jakub Smrz was the quickest rider in mixed weather conditions in the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at Silverstone this morning.
Track conditions were damp, meaning not every rider went out in FP1, but this did not appear to faze the former World Superbike rider, who lapped a 2’14.626. ePayMe Yamaha’s John Hopkins was another racer who appeared undaunted by the conditions, and even though no times under lap record pace were set, he still did a respectable 2’15.435.
Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne was one of the first rider’s out on the Northamptonshire circuit, and at first it was the multiple-champ who set the pace with a 2’16.151 with twenty minutes remaining. But was soon pummelled down to third after Smrz and Hopkins set faster times. But he ended the morning third fastest on the timing-screens.
The session did start off marginally dry, but with a handful of minutes left to the opening FP session rain started to fall out on to the track and it was red flagged, bringing an end to FP1.
When the chequered flag fell, JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison and Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon completed the top five, with a 2’17.051 and 2’17.905 respectively.
The session was initially delayed due to track contamination after an oil spill in the earlier Supersport free practice, but after over an hour the BSB bikes were able to go out.
Due to the changing track and weather conditions many of the riders did not put down many flying laps - if at all. This included; JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam, Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran, ePayMe Yamaha’s Stuart Easton, Moto Rapido Ducati’s Danny Buchan and Bennetts Suzuki’s Tommy Bridewell.
