Oxford Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell has topped the opening Bennetts British Superbike free practice at Silverstone, ending two-tenths faster than second-placed man Jason O’Halloran on a drying track.
Bridewell finished on 53.600 after 14 laps of the National circuit witn the runaway series leader om a 53.802. McAMS Yamaha team-mate Tarran Mackenzie was third on a 53.846.
The EWest Country rider set the benchmark in the final 15 minutes of the opening encounter of the weekend, moving ahead of Glenn Irwin who had been heading the pack at the halfway point of the session.
In the final three minutes, championship leader Jason O'Halloran set his fastest lap on the McAMS Yamaha to move second, just ahead of his teammate Tarran Mackenzie.
Peter Hickman was nudged into fourth place by just 0.008s on the FHO Racing BMW as he bids to consolidate his position in the Showdown in the opening BikeSocial Race tomorrow.
Gino Rea had another strong performance for the Buildbase Suzuki team in sixth place, just ahead of defending champion Josh Brookes on the leading VisionTrack Ducati.
Xavi Forés made it both FHO Racing BMWs in the top eight, pushing ahead of Danny Buchan and Christian Iddon, who completed the top ten.
Of the other contenders battling for a Title Fighter position, Lee Jackson was 11th with Ryan Vickers just 0.032s adrift. Rory Skinner held 14th, with Andrew Irwin and Bradley Ray 16th and 17th respectively.
