Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot was the fastest rider in the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at Assen, and set a 1’37.360 onboard his Fireblade to go top of the timesheets this morning.
No rider lapped a sub 1’37 in FP1 and in the dry conditions no one went under the lap record set by Josh Brookes last year, of a 1’36.904. ‘Showdown spoiler’, Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon was top of the tree until he was dethroned by title fighter Linfoot. But the Stockport native did lap at 1’37.391 to go second quickest, with current series leader, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne completing the top three.
The Panigale rider was nearly one tenth off the best time of Linfoot, after Byrne lapped a 1’37.402, but he did go quicker than fellow Showdown racers, Haslam, Ellison, Mossey and O’Halloran.
Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey went P6, just behind Cooper and Irwin in the first session, with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam posting a 1’38.047 to go eighth fastest, with his team-mate, James Ellison ending FP1 in sixteenth.
Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran could not emulate his team-mate, Linfoot’s fast pace and had to settle for 20th on the sheets. Smiths Racing’s Jakub Smrz and Riders Cup contender, Michael Laverty rounded off the top ten.
There were some familiar faces out on track, including Tyco BMW’s Ian Hutchinson, who has made the switch from the Stock 1000 to the Superbike for this round and ended the morning in P29.
Also Moto Rapido Ducati’s newest rider, Alex Polita made his return to the BSB series today. The Italian has replaced Stuart Easton on the Panigale, and finished FP1 in nineteenth on the timing screens.
