Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne set the pace in the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at the Snetterton, closely followed by the Milwaukee Yamaha backed machine of Josh Brookes.

The former triple champ ended the morning with a 1’48.900, and was nine tenths off his own lap record at the track. Brookes left it till his final lap to make his way into the top two times, but was four tenths off the pace set by Byrne – a 1’49.270. GBmoto Kawasaki’s Chris Walker completed the top three.

Byrne was the first rider to go to the top of the timesheets after only two laps with a 1’50.053 after ten minutes. Millsport Ducati’s Jakub Smrz went into the provisional front row position with 30 minutes left, with a 1’50.214, pushing Brookes to third.

Honda Racing’s development rider Julien Da Costa experienced his first official BSB race weekend event of the year,  after successfully testing his bike at the 300 circuit a few months ago. He started his first FP1 in solid fashion and was second quickest - after a 1’49.950 with 17 minutes on the clock. He ended the session fourth fastest.

Initially Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari left it till his 13th lap to make his way into the top two but was still seven tenths off the pace of pace-setter Byrne, the Japanese rider finished the outing rounding off the top five.

Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins moved up to fourth fastest with less than ten minutes left of the first session, but the Californian was soon pushed back to fifth when Walker went to second on the timing screens after a 1’49.527 after 44 minutes. But the American ended the morning in the gravel as he fell at Montreal

The Anvil Hire TAG Racing machine of Richard Cooper was under investigation after a technical problem out on track. He wasn’t the only rider to experience an issue, Smrz also came to a stop just as the chequered flag appeared and ended the morning eighth fastest, with Bathams Patric Muff and Milwaukee Yamaha’s Tommy Bridewell rounding off the top ten.