Shane Byrne dominated today’s second Bennetts British Superbike free practice as the session was cut short at Oulton Park.
The day ended five minutes early after Team WD-40’s Mason Law crashed out at Britten’s, emerging unhurt but leaving debris on the track.
It meant Byrne, who had just edged clear of McAMS Yamaha’s Josh Brookes, took bragging rights at the close of play.
As the second session of the day began, the usual suspects came out fighting, with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam, Byrne and Buildbase Suzuki’s Bradley Ray taking turns at the top.
The session was stopped eight minutes in after Christian Iddon crashed at Britten’s. The Tyco BMW rider was spotted back up on his feet but heading to the medical centre, and the action was soon back underway.
Byrne was the first rider to dip into the 1’34s as the session neared the halfway point, and the Be Wiser Ducati rider’s lap of 1’34.983 held the top spot for the next 20 minutes.
However, Brookes was starting to put the pressure on, as he scythed to an identical lap time as the final five minutes approached.
Byrne came back with a 1’34.686, just enough to keep himself ahead, and just seconds before Law crashed out, stopping the session for the second time.
Race chiefs decided to end the session early as track marshals rushed to clear debris, and ruled that the five minutes will now be added to tomorrow’s third free practice.
Brookes remained second and the only other rider to drop in to the 1’34s, as Haslam ended the day third ahead of RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki rider, Jake Dixon.
Moto Rapido Ducati’s Taylor Mackenzie finished the session fifth, with Ray sixth, the second Be Wiser Ducati of Glenn Irwin seventh and JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey eighth.
FS-3 Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan ended the day in ninth spot, while Peter Hickman rounded out the top 10 on the Smiths Racing BMW.
