Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill has set the fastest lap in this morning's opening British Superbike free practice session at Donington Park, going a second faster than team-mate Michael Laverty after the Irishman walked away from a spill at Craner Curves.
Hill set the benchmark with a 1'31.283 on his ninth of 11 laps with Laverty lapping at 1'32.343 after the crash. He managed to slow the bike down so there was little damage to it and him. He was a tenth faster than Samsung Suzuki's Jon Kirkham in third with the Relentless GSX-R1000 of Josh Brookes in fourth but less than a tenth further back.
HM Plant Honda's Shane Byrne was fifth and 1.4s off the pace while the returning John Hopkins posted the sixth fastest time after having pins from his fractured fingers removed earlier this week.
WFR Honda's Glen Richards is seventh and the first Evo bike on the timesheet with team-mate Graeme Gowland right behind him. The pair are 1.8s off the pace while Ryuichi Kiyonrim, on the factory Honda is ninth. Privateer Kawasaki man Chris Walker rounds out the top ten.
Buildbase BMW's Barry Burrell is 11th and the third of the Evo machines with conspiracy theorist James Ellison 12th. Scott Smart is 13th on the Evo-spec Moto Rapido Ducati while Gary Mason, who is running a 2012-spec Evo bike is one place further back. James Westmoreland is the third WFR bike in the top 15.
