Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins was on fire during the second MCE British Superbike free practice session at Assen this afternoon, and edged ahead of title challenger, Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari to top the timesheets.

The American was only two tenths off lap record pace, after his best rotation –  a 1’37.472, going 0.2 seconds quicker than Kiyonari who had to settle for second on the timing-screens. Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne was also setting consistently fast times in the high 1’37’s but couldn’t find the added pace to make a move on Hopkins.

At first it was Kiyonari who set the pace with a 1’37.808, followed by Byrne, Bridewell and Brookes, on the 30 minute mark. In a repeat of the opening session it was the Japanese racer who was the first one to lap inside the 1’37 bracket. Hopkins was upping his pace and managed to climb to third fastest wedged between Byrne and Bridewell on the timesheets with a 1’38.204 - at the halfway stage.

Linfoot was also replicating the earlier session and was consistently lapping in the low 1’38’s, and managed to again lap inside the 1’37’s to knock Byrne down to third, on the ten minute mark. Hopkins was obviously not giving up and a 1’37.472 showed that he means business this weekend, and topped the timesheets – edging ahead of Kiyonari with a two tenth advantage, with five minutes left to FP2.

Byrne, GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker and Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Dan Linfoot completed the top five. Bathams BMW’s Patric Muff had a consistent session out on track and finished the afternoon in sixth, ahead of Showdown riders, Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell and Josh Brookes.

The Yamaha pairing failed to make it into the top five with the Devizes Swearbox lapping a 1’38.239, and Brookes just edging into the top ten, in ninth after a 1’38.311.

Elsewhere the Bimota machine of young Frenchman Christophe Ponsson was under investigation, after a loose fairing on his bike. Meanwhile his new team-mate Christian Iddon, made his return to the BSB series and ended the afternoon in 13th after a 1’39.037.

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