Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes was the fastest in a very wet MCE British Superbike first free practice session of the day at Oulton Park.

The Aussie completed eight laps during the 45 minute session, and was one of only ten bikes that made it out on to the track. The session started off with a light rain shower, but soon the rain turned into down-pours and many of the riders decided not to brave the wet conditions and remained in the dry and warmth of their garages. Brookes set his fastest time on his last lap of 1'55.781.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider Keith Farmer was not too far off Brookes’ pace and clocked a time of 1’59.058. The youngster did shoot up the top of the timesheets on his fourth lap, but was eventually knocked back to second in the last moments of the free practice session.

Bathams Honda’s Tommy Bridewell did brave the Oulton circuit and set the third fastest time of 1’59.185. The Devizes lad suffered a leg injury at the last round at Thruxton and managed to recover enough to take part today.

Doodson Motorsports rider Robbin Harms was one of the first riders out on track and ended up completing the most laps on the rain soaked circuit. The Danish racer set at time just outside the top five of 1’59.517.

MH Kawasaki’s Howie Mainwaring was not fazed by the adverse weather conditions and went over the line with a lap time just inside two minutes of 2’00.199. Mainwaring was not the only MH Kawasaki rider out on the track; Michael Howarth who replaces injured Luke Quigley was also out on track and finished the session in eighth.

Samsung Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari completed seven laps and ended the first free practice session in sixth, followed closely by Rapido Sport Racing Ducati’s Matteo Baiocco. Halsall Racing’s Lee Costello's session ended abruptly when he suffered a technical problem at Brittens on only his fifth lap around the circuit.

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