Samsung Suzuki's John Hopkins has topped the final British Superbike free practice timesheet at Brands Hatch this morning, grabbing the lead from Shane Byrne with his final flying lap with this morning quickest man Tommy Hill in third.
Hopkins was the only rider to break the 1'26s barrier with a 1'25.915 and is only two-tenths off Gregorio Lavilla's long-standing lap record. Byrne went round in 1'26.237 after having an engine change before the half-hour session began and he only completed six laps compared to Hopkins' 15.
Hill, meanwhile went slightly faster than his time from this morning and is 0.007s slower than Byrne but has MSS Colchester Kawsaki's Alex Lowes for company in fourth. The second Swan bike of Michael Laverty s in fifth and Graeme Gowland put in a stunning lap on his Evo-spec WFR Honda to take sixth.
Rapid Ducati's Martin Jessopp continued his form from this morning to go seventh with Josh Brookes just behind him in eighth. James Westmoreland and Gary Mason round out the top ten. Glen Richards is second in the Evo class and 15th overall with Patric Muff third (21st). James Ellison's Sorrymate.com Honda expired on his first lap and he didn't post a time.
