Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne stormed to the top of the MCE British Superbike free practice timesheets at Oulton Park after he clocked a 1’37.200 with three minutes remaining of the session.
After a short rain shower earlier in the day the track started to dry up and most of the riders competing this weekend decided to venture out, for the opening free practice. One of the teams who were waiting for the afternoon session were Quattro Plant Kawasaki, with Chris Walker, and returning rider Barry Burrell, who replaces Danny Buchan.
The Samsung Honda boys were only seven hundredths of a second slower than Byrne, and with eight minutes remaining of the session, Ryuichi Kiyonari was the fastest rider with a 1’39.013 lap. The triple champ was able to improve and when the chequered flag appeared he set a 1’37.582 to place him third fastest. His younger team-mate Alex Lowes was three tenths of a second quicker, and was pipped to the post by Byrne and ended the morning second fastest with a 1’37.272.
Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes and PJ Jacobsen were one of the first riders to descend onto the drying circuit, and on his fifth lap Brookes set the fastest time with a 1’43.919, but he was soon outpaced by Lowes, Kiyo and Byrne and ended the opening free practice eighth fastest with a 1’39.254 lap. His American team-mate faired better as he went nearly one second quicker than the Aussie to end the session fourth fastest followed by GBmoto’s Dan Linfoot, who rounded off the top five.
Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland was sixth quickest with GBmoto’s Peter Hickman nine tenths of a second behind, with PR Racing’s Karl Harris finishing the session ninth fastest.
Halsall Racing’s new recruit, former Bathams rider Tommy Bridewell rounded off the top ten with a 1’39.390. British Superbike newbie QBSD Motorsport’s Jamie Poole ended his first practice session 21st fastest with his best lap of 1’47.830.
