Worx Suzuki replacement rider Tommy Hill has fired a warning shot across the bows of the British Superbike field at Mallory Park this afternoon, setting the fastest lap time in free practice one.
Hill started the session in top spot and was only bettered once by Hydrex Honda's Karl Harris. The former World Superbike man set a 57.620 lap in the opening five minutes which Harris immediately lowered to 57.034 but Hill was back on top two minutes later with a 56.877.
One minute later, Hill set the quickest time of the session, lapping in 56.440 before returning to the pits to make some changes. He came out again 13 minutes later but couldn't match the time set after only ten minutes.
Harris was second quickest for most of the session with a 56.969 but was busted down to second right at the end by series leader Leon Camier on the Airwaves Yamaha. Camier bunged in a 56.756 on his final lap and a last-ditch effort by the Honda man just wasn't quick enough.
HM Plant Honda's Steve Brogan, who is standing in for the injured Glen Richards, rounded out a theoretical front row after spending much of the session in and around the top five.
MSS Kawasaki's Simon Andrews didn't come out of his garage until the final five minutes, put in five laps and took fifth place on the timesheets with his final circuit, setting a 57.087, five one-hundredths behind Superstock regular Brogan.
Fan favourite Chris Walker was sixth fastest, with Camier's team-mate James Ellison seventh, Stuart Easton in eighth, John Laverty ninth and Josh Brookes in tenth. Superstock regular Richard Cooper put his Co-ordit Yamaha in 11th place but it was disappointment for Michael Rutter on the SMT Honda as he only completed three laps and must still be trying to get comfortable on the bike.
Relentless Suzuki's Ian Lowry was way down in 22nd with the returning Michael Howarth on the STP JHS MV Agusta last. Gary Mason was the quickest of the regular Superbike Cup runners, three-tenths slower than Cooper, while Tommy Bridwell was 18th overall and third in the Cup.
