Former MotoGP star Scott Redding topped the opening Bennetts British Superbike free practice at Assen this morning, opening a four-tenth gap over fellow world championship refugee Xavi Fores with Danny Buchan in third.
Be Wiser Ducati’s Redding set a 1’36.685 early in the session and the pack then scrapped it our for the placings. Buchan held second on the FS-3 Kawasaki until the final minutes when Fores stuck in a 1’37.169 on the works Honda.
Tyco BMW’s Glenn Irwin took his best session finish for some time, ending in fourth place and six-tenths in arrears while championship leader and multiple Assen race winner Josh Brookes in fifth and another tenth down.
Hector Barbera, another rider who has spun a million laps at the Circuit van Drenthe, finished in sixth place with Tommy Bridewell putting the Oxford Ducati in eighth.
Luke Stapleford was worrying the top three for a decent portion of the session but slipped down to eighth with Christian Iddon ninth and Jason O’Halloran in tenth place.
It was a poor session for Showdown contender Tarran Mackenzie who finished 11 places his his McAMS team-mate O’Halloran and some 2.485s off the pace.
Fellow Yamaha man Dan Linfoot fared a little better, taking 12th behind Honda’s Andrew Irwin with Peter Hickman, Luke Mossey and Richard Cooper completing the top 15.
James Ellison finished in 20th on his debut with the OMG Suzuki team as he replaces Josh Elliott.
Mega-gallery is here, my friends, oh yes