Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran was the fastest rider during the opening MCE British Superbike free practice outing at Knockhill, but the session was littered with red-flags, with a total of four coming out at the side of the Scottish circuit.
But the rider who had one of the biggest crashes of the morning was JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam. The current championship leader had a big high-side between turns 6 and 7. He was fortunately conscious after the crash and was taken to the medical centre in an ambulance. The ZX-10RR rider hit the tarmac after only five minutes out on track.
The second red flag came out moments after the session was restarted, and it involved Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon. The Stockport rider fell between turns 8 and 9 and he was also taken to the medical centre for a check up.
The third red flag was due to Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin, who crashed his Panigale at turn 6, he was also taken to the medical centre for further assistance, with only seven minutes to the opening session remaining.
The final red flag brought the first session to an end, with under two minutes left to FP1 after three riders crashed unhurt. RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon, McAMS Yamaha’s Michael Laverty and Team WD-40’s Tommy Bridewell were the trio who succumbed to the track contamination, but were inside the top ten times when the session finished.
Laverty was fifth quickest with a 48.800 lap, Bridewell went P8 with Dixon in ninth. Jakub Smrz was tenth fastest this morning. Meanwhile recent testing at the Scottish track paid off for O’Halloran as he set a strong 48.552, with title challenger, Shane Byrne going a tenth slower to set the second fastest time, with Mossey completing the top three.
Fresh from the Isle of Man TT, Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman clocked a 48.765 to go inside the top four, with Ellison and Linfoot ending the first session in sixth and seventh on the timing-screens.
