Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill has topped the first MCE British Superbike free practice at a wet Oulton Park this morning in a session that was delayed for an hour due to the amount of water on the track.
The reigning champion went to the front of the pack with his final lap, going round in 1'49.347 to demote the Tyco Suzuki of Josh Brookes into second place. The Australian had led early on, only to slide back and see the Moto Rapido Ducati of Scott Smart hit the front with ten minutes left to run.
Smart, a former British 250cc Champion, slowly made his way from the foot of the table, going seventh fastest and then improving by one position before going fastest on a 1'50.174. He eventually succumbed to last-ditch effort by Alastair Seeley, who dropped the Kent man into fourth and then promptly crashed unhurt at Druids.
Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki's Shane Byrne was fifth and a little over a second off the pace with early leader Alex Lowes a place behind on the WFR Honda. Michael Laverty put his Samsung Honda in seventh with Primo Kawasaki new-boy Gary Mason in eighth. Tommy Bridewell took ninth and Noriyuki Haga rounded out the top ten.
Jon Kirkham crashed unhurt at Knickerbrook, Patric Muff went down at Shell, also unhurt, while Splitlath Aprilia's Florian Marino was taken to the medical centre after a tumble. Details of his condition are not known at the present time.
