Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes left it till his last lap to top the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at a damp Brands Hatch. The Derby title challenger clocked at 1’37.807 just as the chequered flag appeared, and knocked Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes down to second.
The Aussie rider was leading the way for the last fifteen minutes of the outing, and looked set to clinch the provisional pole spot, but Lowes went one tenth of a second quicker.
Samsung Honda’s Freddy Foray, who is acting as a stand-in for the injured Ryuichi Kiyonari had a solid session this morning. The Frenchman did lead the way with twenty minutes remaining, but was pushed down to second by Brookes, and ended the morning in third with a 1’39.552.
Brookes’ team-mate PJ Jacobsen finished fourth fastest with a 1’40.655, with veteran racer, Bathams Honda’s Michael Rutter completing the top five. Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Chris Walker, STEL Suzuki’s Aaron Zanotti and Padgett’s Jakub Smrz were not too far behind and rounded off the top eight.
Rain overnight meant that the track was damp, and the session was declared ‘wet’ but as the circuit continued to dry, more and more riders decided to venture out on to the GP circuit.
For over half of the session only ten riders went out, with Two Wheel Racing’s Jenny Tinmouth the first to brave the wet conditions. The only female in the championship ended the session in nineteenth. Bathams Honda’s Danny De Boar and GBmoto’s Peter Hickman rounded off the top ten.
