Smiths Triumph’s Graeme Gowland got the better of his team-mate Billy McConnell to top the second Motorpoint British Supersport free practice session at a scorching Brands Hatch GP track.
Gowland, who lies second in the overall championship standings behind his Australian colleague lapped a 1’29.166 on his eighth rotation of the track, with McConnell a tenth off the pace of the Hexham lad.
MarTrain’s Alastair Seeley completed the top three. The wee wizard of Carrickfergus was only one-one hundredths of a second off the pace of the Smiths backed Triumph of McConnell, but did better his time from the opening FP1 by two tenths of a second.
Appleyard Yamaha’s Jake Dixon and Tyco Suzuki’s Taylor Mackenzie rounded up the top five on the timing-screens. Dixon’s team-mate South African, Bjorn Estment finished the afternoon, tenth fastest, just behind Team Traction Control’s James Rispoli.
At the start of the first free practice session there were damp patches out on the track, due to the heavy rain overnight. Firstly it was Seeley who was setting the pace on a 1’29.469, with McConnell and Gowland on the chase.
With two minutes remaining Mossey and Dixon made their way into the top five, knocking Mackenzie and Rispoli down to sixth and seventh respectively. Gowland then charged ahead of his team-mate McConnell in the timing screens to go second, and a minute later – just as the chequered flag appeared the Northerner went three tenths quicker than Seeley’s best lap with a 1’29.177.
