Glenn Irwin put the emotions of the past fortnight behind him to go quickest at the end of Friday’s two practice sessions, the first track action for the BeerMonster Ducati team since the sudden death of its founder and manager Paul Bird.

In what could prove to be a crucial weekend for current series leader Tommy Bridewell and team-mate Irwin, it was the latter who drew first blood by topping the quicker of the day’s sessions in the afternoon.

The Ulsterman comes into the event chasing down a 14.5 point deficit to Bridewell, an inter-team tussle that has gained significant resonance in the wake of Bird’s passing at the age of 56 on 1 September.

Bridewell, meanwhile, ended the day with the fifth fastest time overall, though he was quickest of all in FP1.

Between the two Ducati riders was Leon Haslam on the ROKiT BMW in second - just +0.047s off the top spot - plus the two OMG Yamahas of Ryan Vickers and Kyle Ryde in third and fourth. Jason O’Halloran, who together with Ryde still has shot, at the title completed the top six on the McAMS Yamaha.

Back on track for the first time since FS-3 Kawasaki announced he would be replaced by O’Halloran for the 2024 BSB season, Lee Jackson was again the fastest of the ZX-10RR contingent in seventh despite a crash, with BMW riders Peter Hickman (FHO Racing) and Luke Mossey (L1 Racing) eighth and ninth.

Elsewhere, BSB returnees/stand-ins Luke Stapleford (McAMS Yamaha), Davey Todd (SYNETIQ BMW) and Michael Dunlop (Hawk Honda) ended the day 15th, 18th and 23rd respectively, with DAO Kawasaki’s Brayden Elliott completing his first day as a BSB rider in 24th.