Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari was the only rider to lap inside the 1’35’s during the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at a cloudy Oulton Park, and managed to out-pace Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne to top the timesheets this morning.
The Japanese triple champ was only half a second off his own lap record pace after a 1’35.910, and was the same margin quicker than Byrne. GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker was also on the pace, and a 1’36.755 placed him third on the sheets.
Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes initially set the pace with a 1’37.287 after ten minutes of lappery. But Kiyo was not to be outdone and on his fifth rotation went 0.06 seconds faster than the Bringelly rider, to top the time-sheets.
Soon Byrne was at the sharp end and a 1’37.011 was enough to place him second on the timing-screens on the three minute mark, but it was still not enough to topple King Kiyo – who was constantly improving his lap times.
But Byrne ploughed on ahead and was the first rider to lap in the 1’36’s to be the quickest out on track with 28 minutes to go to the opening session. Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins was obviously feeling comfortable on the Cheshire track as he went third fastest, pushing Brookes down to fourth seconds later.
With 15 minutes remaining, Brookes crashed unhurt at Druids while in fourth and soon slipped back down to 11th. With the Australian in the pits, it paved the way for Kiyonari to charge on ahead, and a 1’36.268 was enough to cement his place at the top of the sheets with less than three minutes left of the session.
Elsewhere Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki's Stuart Easton was edging into the top five, and he did just that with one minute remaining. Walker was making waves further down the pack, and a 1’36.755 meant he was one-three hundredths of a second faster than Hopkins, to go into third.
At the flag there was a flurry of activity out on the track, Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell came from nowhere to go fourth fastest, followed by Hopkins, Halsall Racing’s Jon Kirkham, and Easton, who completed the top seven. RAF Reserves Honda’s Peter Hickman, Bathams BMW’s Patric Muff safely made their way into the top ten.
Glen Richards was the fastest of the returning old stagers, placing 18th with a 1’38.124 with Anvil TAG Kawasaki team-mate Scott Smart in 21st. Gary Mason, who will finish the season with Tsingtao Kawasaki, ended in 24th.
