Series rookie Tarran Mackenzie clocked the fastest lap time of the day to lead the second Bennetts British Superbike free practice session this afternoon.
After sitting outside the top 10 for most of the session, the McAMS Yamaha rider set a 1’15.268, almost two tenths quicker than first practice leader Peter Hickman.
Straight off the bat, Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin was into the 1’15s with a 1’15.702 on just his second flying lap, the second quickest time of the day so far, while Luke Mossey and JG Speedfit Kawasaki team-mate Leon Haslam slotted into the top three.
Moments later, Andrew Irwin followed his brother into the 1’15s and took second from Mossey, while fellow Superbike young gun Bradley Ray split the factory Kawasaki boys to take fourth.
Tommy Bridewell, Josh Brookes and Michael Laverty moved well into the top eight, but FP1 front-man Peter Hickman was on a charge and after the first round of pit stops, the Smith’s Racing BMW rider went sixth quickest.
Hickman then continued the onslaught and skirted just 0.031s outside the 1’15 mark to set the third fastest lap.
With just under 15 minutes to go, however, Mackenzie showed everyone up with the fastest lap of the weekend so far, a 1’15.268, to move comfortably into the lead.
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran jumped up to third while Christian Iddon followed in the final 10 minutes, but their places were short-lived as a flurry of moves in the closing moments eventually moved them back to eighth and ninth.
Hickman set a 1’15.461 to go second quickest, while Glenn Irwin stuck in a flyer in the closing minute to take third from RAF Regular and Reserves’ Dixon.
Fifth went to Haslam ahead of Moto Rapido Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell and Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper.
O’Halloran and Iddon were eventually relegated to eighth and ninth, while Andrew Irwin bagged 10th.
