Be Wiser Ducati’s Josh Brookes stamped his authority on Oulton Park this afternoon as he dipped under the lap record to lead Bennetts British Superbike free practice two.
The Australian, who has the most wins at the Cheshire circuit of any rider this weekend, scorched to a 1’34.321 after the chequered flag to lead Danny Buchan by 0.723s.
With the air temperature dropping into the single digits, FS3 Kawasaki’s Buchan shot out front early on as he and Tyco BMW man Christian Iddon led the first few flying laps.
But Iddon was back on top with a 1’36.381, leading Silverstone winner Tarran Mackenzie by just over a tenth of a second before Buchan popped in the first 1’35 of the session moments later, a 1’35.987, as Peter Hickman followed him up the order with a low 1’36.
Iddon was on a charge after the first round of garage stops, however, and edged his way into the lead with a 1’35.877, but Brookes regained his advantage from FP1 to clock the fastest time of the weekend, 1’35.239.
Despite a lull in action thanks to a short spit of rain, Buchan came out of the gates swinging with just over eight minutes remaining to go fastest with a 1’35.044, almost two tenths quicker than Brookes.
But Brookes fought back in the closing seconds of the session, clocking the first 1’34 of the weekend with a 1’34.996 and turning the knife on his chequered flag lap with a ’34.321 – nearly three quarters of a second faster than Buchan.
With a late flyer, Smith’s Racing BMW man Hickman slotted into third ahead of OMG Suzuki’s Luke Mossey.
Oxford Ducati ace Tommy Bridewell beat Iddon and leading McAMS Yamaha rider Jason O’Halloran to fifth as the trio were the last of the riders under 1’36s.
Ryan Vickers went eight quickest for RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki while Mackenzie and Keith Farmer completed the top 10.
