Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes put down the quickest time in the opening MCE British Superbike free practice session at the Brands Hatch GP circuit. The Australian lapped a 1’26.388, going 0.025 seconds faster than rival, PBM Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne.
The Yamaha man was in fifth for the majority of the outing, but with ten minutes left soared to the top of the sheets - demoting Byrne to second in the process. The reigning champ set a 1’26.413, and was unable to better his time when the chequered flag appeared.
Anvil Hire TAG Racing’s Richard Cooper had a stellar FP1, and from out of no where placed his ZX-10R third fastest overal with a 1’26.446, going one-two hundredths of a second slower than the PBM backed bike of Byrne.
Initially it was Byrne who set the pace after fifteen minutes out on track. In the early stages it was a solid session for the Tyco BMW duo of Tommy Bridewell and Michael Laverty who were P2 and P3, fastest respectively with twenty minutes remaining to the session.
But Byrne was not the only PBM rider to up his game, his team-mate Stuart Easton was also up the sharp end, and pushed Bridewell down to third fastest after a 1’27.082 on the fifteen minute mark. But at the flag Laverty managed to hold on to fourth fastest, but Bridewell slipped back to eleventh.
JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s James Ellison completed the top five, followed by a strong performance by Team WD-40’s Jack Kennedy, James Westmoreland and Easton.
A last lap dash certainly paid off for Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey, who made it into the top nine on his final rotation, with Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan rounding up the top ten.
Moto Rapido Ducati’s substitute rider, John Hopkins made his comeback to the series in FP1. The former MotoGP rider is standing in for the crocked Jakub Smrz. The American had his first real taste onboard the Panigale and ended the session twelfth fastest.
Be Wiser Kawasaki’s Chris Walker made his return to the BSB paddock after sitting out the races at the last round of Knockhill after a free practice crash. He took part in the opening free practice, and ended the morning in 25th on the timing-screens.
