Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes set the fastest lap in the second MCE British Superbike free practice session this afternoon at Oulton Park, with a time of 1’36.547.
The Derby lad dethroned Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne from the top of the timesheets after his seventh lap, and remained on top till the chequered flag appeared. Byrne had to settle for second, with Tyco Suzuki’s Josh Brookes close behind with a time of 1’36.600.
The second free practice session was a complete contrast to the first one earlier this morning, when torrential down-pours affected the first session, resulting in only ten bikes making it out of their garages. Brookes topped the first session, but was unable to go faster than Lowes and Byrne this afternoon.
Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison did clock the third fastest lap with thirty minutes remaining of the session, but he could not improve his time of 1’37.707, and ended the day one second behind leader Lowes in fourth.
Buildbase BMW’s Jon Kirkham decided on his last lap to make an impact on the top five, and his time of 1’37.828 was enough to propel the tall Derbyshire man to fifth, de-placing Bathams Honda rider Tommy Bridewell to sixth, with Lloyds British GBmoto’s Peter Hickman in seventh.
Veteran racer Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Chris Walker was riding high in sixth, but with two minutes remaining of the session dropped to eighth. Rapid Solicitor’s Kawasaki rider Keith Farmer crashed at Druids with three minutes of the session remaining, which resulted in him dropping to ninth in the time-sheets, with Tyco Suzuki’s PJ Jacobsen rounding off the top ten.