PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne and title challenger Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes both went under lap record pace during the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at the Snetterton 300 circuit, but at the flag it was reigning champ, Byrne who had the edge over the Bringelly rider.
At the end of the 45 minute session Byrne set a fast 1’47.670, with Brookes going only two tenths slower, with a 1’47.857 rotation. JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison was up the sharp end for the majority of the session, but in the end could not pull his ZX-10R into the 1’47’s and had to settle for a 1’48.533.
Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari rounded off the top four, followed by Moto Rapido Ducati’s Jakub Smrz. The former World Superbike rider was initially under observation by the marshals with a possible technical issue, but after retreating to the garage made his way back out to lap a 1’49.250.
Mainwaring, Walker, Jackson and Iddon completed the top ten. There were some notable riders who just missed out on a top ten spot – and that included both Tyco BMW rider’s of Bridewell and Laverty, who were sandwiched between Milwaukee Yamaha’s Broc Parkes in eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth on the sheets.
There were a few technical problems, and crashes including Smiths BMW’s Billy McConnell, who came to a stop at Palmer, and Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran fell in the finals seconds of the outing, and crashed unhurt at Bombhole. His returning team-mate Dan Linfoot ended FP1 in 17th on the timing screens with a 1’50.210.
