Smiths Triumph’s Billy McConnell ended the first World Supersport free practice session firmly on top of the timesheets. The Motorpoint British Supersport stalwart is wildcarding at the opening round, and the Aussie completed five laps at his very damp home track.

His fastest time of 1’51.460 was enough to hold off a last second charge from team-mate Graeme Gowland. The Hexham lad was six seconds off the pace of his British Supersport garage buddy, but it was enough to place him second on the timesheets.

But only six bikes actually came out for the first session of the new season. The likes of title challengers like MAHI Racing’s Kenan Sofuoglu and Pata Honda’s Michael Van Der Mark remained in their retrospective garages, because of the wet weather.

Com Plus Racing’s Fraser Rogers was the only bike to come out of the pits at first. The Brit did one lap then swiftly went back to his garage. He then came back out again and went back in, but failed to clock a time.

Team GO Eleven’s Roberto Rolfo was another rider who decided not to remain in the pits; he went around the Australian track four times, with five minutes left of the session. Oz Wildcard Racing’s Ryan Taylor rounded off the top four, with a 2’01.271.

CIA Insurance Honda’s Jack Kennedy was another rider who failed to appear. According to his twitter account there was too much cleaxine in his system, that thins the blood making it too high a risk to ride. But he’s hoping to get back on to the track tomorrow. The Dubliner broke his ankle during pre-season testing at Phillip Island on Monday.

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