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Thruxton BSB: Hickman edges Ray to lead first session

Peter Hickman saw off an 11th-hour charge from Bradley Ray to lead this morning’s first Bennetts British Superbike free practice session at Thruxton..

The Smith’s Racing BMW rider led almost the entire 45 minute session and dominated the timesheets by more than three-tenths ahead of Ray and Josh Brookes.

But it was Jake Dixon who opened the session by going straight to the top, before being eclipsed by Hickman on the Lincolnshireman’s fourth lap while Luke Mossey, Michael Laverty and Brands double-winner Brookes slotted into the top five.

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Moments later, Ray began a charge and jumped up to split Danny Buchan and Chrissy Rouse for eighth, but his spot was short lived as local hero Tommy Bridewell and Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon knocked Buchan and the Buildbase Suzuki rider down a couple pegs.

Last year’s Thruxton race winner Hickman soon stamped his authority and became the first rider to dip into the 1’15s bracket with a 1’15.881.

But other than Be Wiser Ducati’s Andrew Irwin moving into ninth, there was a lull in action in the top 10 while riders hit the pits for changes with just under 30 minutes remaining.

McAMS Yamaha man Brookes bumped Dixon back to third when riders started to get back out on track, but the Aussie was still more than half a second off Hickman’s pace at the front.

He took another couple of tenths off his best with a 1’16.196 and looked to be on for a almost assured 1’15, but lost pace in the final sector.

With just under 10 minutes remaining, Mossey stuck in a 1’16.234 to move into third ahead of Dixon, and soon after that FS-3 Racing Kawasaki’s Buchan jumped up to sixth before continuing his charge and knocking Dixon down another spot as the Essex rider moved into fourth.

Moments later, Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran scorched up the order from 19th to second, edging Brookes by just 0.013s.

But with less than two minutes remaining, Brookes finally broke into the 1’15s to go second before Ray shot forward 17 places with a 1’15.777 to top the session.

With seconds left in the session, however, Hickman put the hammer down and clocked a 1’15.385 to take the top spot straight back.

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O’Halloran ended the session fourth ahead of JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Mossey and Buchan, while Tarran Mackenzie stuck in a late lap to move up to seventh.

Laverty, RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki’s Dixon and Cooper completed the top 10.

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