Samsung Suzuki's John Hopkins has taken top spot in the opening British Superbike free practice session at Oulton Park this morning but was chased hard by Tommy Hill's Swan Yamaha until it was red-flagged after John Laverty crashed on the start/finish straight.
Hopkins lapped in 1'36.006 with four minutes left to go, taking the lead from Hill who didn't have the chance to fire back and had to settle for his 1'36.402. HM Plant Honda's Shane Byrne is third after leading early on and is a full eight-tenths in arrears.
The returning James Ellison is fourth on the Sorrymate.com Honda after only a single test at Mallory Park on Wednesday while Gary Mason, who has crew chief Andrew Pitt back in the garage, is fifth just ahead of Michael Laverty on the second Swan Honda.
Motorpoint Yamaha's James Westmoreland slipped to seventh after a crash at Druids but he is still in front of Michael Rutter, Josh Brookes and Chris Walker who round out the top ten. Jon Kirkham is 11th, Peter Hickman 12th, Ian Lowry 13th, Martin Jessopp 14th and Glen Richards is the first Evo runner in 15th.
Team-mate Graeme Gowland is second in the Evo class and 20th overall with Barry Burrell third (22nd). Karl Harris fell off the Spitlath Aprilia at Druids but was unhurt. Laverty has been taken to the medical centre for treatment.
