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Assen BSB: Title fighter Hickman tops first session

Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman left his best lap until last, as he topped the opening MCE British Superbike free practice timesheets at Assen this morning.

His 1’37.247 pushed Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne off the top of the timings-screens with one tenth separating the showdown riders. JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam has confirmed his future to the ZX-10RR team for next year and also lapped inside the 1’37’s and went P3 at the flag.

Former World Superbike champion, Sylvain Guintoli did head the sheets with ten minutes left to the first outing, and looked on course to remain in P1. But he still put in a solid time and was only a small 0.05s shy off Haslam’s 1’37.621 lap.

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Haslam’s team-mate, Luke Mossey is still recovering from injuries sustained from Thruxton, but he was at one time second quickest, and at the end of the 45 minutes of lappery completed the top five. Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran was another rider who initially topped the timesheets, but slipped back to sixth after a 1’37.743.

McAMS Yamaha’s James Ellison crashed at turn five, and did walk away from the incident and held on to his spot as seventh fastest. Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes holds the lap record at the Dutch track and ended the morning in eighth. Ray and Irwin rounded off the top ten.

Showdown rider, Jake Dixon was 14th fastest and missed out on a sub 1’38 lap. Laverty, Iddon, Hopkins and Linfoot all finished inside the top 15.  The session was red flagged with 35 minutes remaining when Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Shaun Winfield crashed, and FP1 was brought to a halt. He was taken to the medical centre and will have x-rays on his chest and left middle finger.

This weekend there are a number of wildcard riders taking part at Assen. Pirelli National Superstock 1000 rider’s Danny Buchan and Richard Cooper are racing for the FS-3 Kawasaki and Bennetts Suzuki’s team’s respectively and Josh Elliott is once again back on the Tyco BMW.  Youngster, Elliott did crash at turn one but was declared OK at the trackside. He finished in P18, with Buchan P23, after falling on his in lap and Cooper in 17th.

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