Milwaukee Yamaha rider James Ellison was the fastest rider out on track in the final MCE British Superbike free practice session, clocking at time of 1’35.707. The Englishman leaped to the top of the time-sheets with two minutes remaining, and none of the other riders managed to break into the 1’35 barrier.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne did dominate for most of the session and looked set to be the fastest in the opening session at Oulton Park, but he was unable to beat Ellison and had to settle for second with a time of 1’36.011. Samsung Honda rider Alex Lowes, was the quickest in the second free practice yesterday, but could not find the pace to compete with Byrne and Ellison and ended the session in third with a time of 1’36.075.

Buildbase BMW’s Jon Kirkham was on form this afternoon and was never outside the top five after continually riding consistently fast lap times. During the earlier part of the free practice his BMW team-mate James Westmoreland was matching the tall riders times, but Kirkham was too strong and finished  fourth fastest with an encouraging time of 1’36.283. Westmoreland dropped off the pace and ended up rounding off the top ten.

Tyco Suzuki rider Josh Brookes started off the session inside the top three, but fell to fifth after Kirkham shifted the Aussie rider down a place on the timesheets. Injured Bathams Honda rider Tommy Bridewell did not let the pain in his leg get in his way as he clawed his way to sixth fastest after managing to complete 17 laps of the Oulton circuit.

Lloyds British GBmoto rider Peter Hickman was the quickest bike on track after his first lap, but the likes of Byrne, Ellison and Lowes proved too quick for the Louth rider who finished seventh. MH Kawasaki’s Howie Mainwaring went around the circuit twenty times, and all his lappery paid off as it catapulted the Frodsham rider to eighth fastest with a time of 1’36.949, closely followed by another Kawasaki, Quattro Plant’s veteran rider, Chris Walker.

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