Yamaha Racing's Ben Spies has set the fastest time in this morning's first World Superbike free practice session at Assen, lapping just over half a second faster than Alstare Suzuki's Max Neukirchner.
Spies put in two quick laps at the end of the hour-long stint, knocking the German off the number one spot with a 1'39.816 lap and then followed it up with a 1'39.687 in comparison to Neukirchner's 1'40.050.
The session was red-flagged after 20 minutes when John Hopkins crashed. He had completed four laps and didn't come out again. He dislocated his hip in the crash and has been taken to hospital.
Hopkins' team-mate Leon Haslam was the fastest British rider, taking fourth place just behind Ten Kate Honda's Carlos Checa with early pace-setter Regis Laconi in fifth and Noriyuki Haga in sixth. Aussie Karl Muggeridge was a surprise entrant into the top ten, setting eighth quickest time behind Ryuichi Kiyonari.
Spies' team-mate Tom Sykes was next Brit along in ninth just a second off the pace, with Jonathan Rea in 11th and Shane Byrne one place behind. Tommy Hill made a brief foray into the top ten before settling down into 18th fastest, 1.6s in arrears.
Kawasaki's Stuart Easton, who is standing in for the injured Broc Parkes, was 26th on his WSB debut but only half a second slower than team-mate Makoto Tamada.
