Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne was the fastest rider during the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at Snetterton, lapping a 1’48.353 this morning.

But it was Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran who initially held on to the top spot on the timesheets, until there was only five minutes remaining. The likable Aussie was pipped to the post by the Panigale, and only 0.4s separated the pair on the screens.

O’Halloran put down a 1’48.42, with current championship leader Luke Mossey slotting into third quickest with a 1’48.764. FS-3 Racing’s Billy McConnell saved his best lap for last and soared into the 1’48’s to go P4.

In doing so the rider demoted his fellow countryman, Josh Brookes down to fifth while the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha man was in the pits. JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam was declared fit this morning, after missing the last round due to injury.

The Smalley based racer is getting used to riding his ZX-10RR again after not being able to ride for eight days due to concussion protocol. But he did post a time that meant he was 11th on the timesheets with a 1’49.949, and was only one second off the leading trio.

Bennetts Suzuki’s Sylvain Guintoli did manage to improve his pace throughout the session, and was two seconds off the time of Byrne, but was only 0.3s off the lap set by his team-mate, Taylor Mackenzie.

It was a much more youthful Tyco BMW garage this morning, with new recruit Andy Reid joining the helm, alongside stand-in rider, Josh Elliott who is racing in place of the crocked Christian Iddon (click for more on that injury story.). The pair set a time that put them P22 and P24 respectively.

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