Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes was the fastest rider in the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at Oulton Park with a 1’35.556, and with this lap knocked PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne from the top of the timesheets.
The quadruple-champ was sitting comfortably in P1 after a hot 1’35.579 lap but when the chequered flag appeared Brookes edged out an extra 0.023s from his improved R1 machine to set the quickest time of the morning.
Tyco BMW’s Tommy Bridewell sprung out of his garage with gusto and was never outside the top ten times throughout the 45 minute session, and in the end was two tenths off Brookes’ best time had to settle for third fastest after a 1’35.824 rotation.
Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan was second on the timing-screens with ten minutes left, but he was unable to push his ZX-10R into the 1’35’s and was a tenth off in fourth. Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey completed the top five.
At first it was Byrne who pulled the pin with a 1’36.536 followed by Bridewell and Brookes, with fifteen minutes remaining. When the chequered came out Brookes went one better pushing Byrne and Bridewell to second and third respectively.
Returning to the BSB paddock is PBM Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton. The Scot has been out of action after breaking his left ankle and right tibia in a crash at Brands, and is still in Showdown contention. He finished the opening practice outing in thirteenth.
Easton was not the only rider to make his return this morning, JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison made his comeback in FP1. He broke his wrist at Thruxton and ended up missing the last round at Cadwell, but he soon got back into the swing of things with a time that placed him a respectable twelfth.
Iddon, Walker, Hickman, Kennedy and McConnell rounded up the top ten. World Endurance rider, Julien Da Costa is standing-in for the crocked Jason O’Halloran, and the Frenchman ended the morning in 25th. Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari appeared to have had a technical problem and only completed one lap throughout the session.
