Series rookie Scott Redding powered to the top of the timesheets late in today's second Bennetts British Superbike practice as Danny Buchan once again missed out.
After the FS-3 rider had controlled much of the session, Be Wiser Ducati's former Grand Prix star took over in the final few minutes while FP1 front-runner Brookes had to settle for third after a crash.
Redding took control early on as he skimmed the 48s, but it was Buchan who was first to blast into the 47s bracket with a 47.832 to hit the lead.
But it was bad luck for Tarran Mackenzie, whose improvement on a 48.140 was halted when he dumped his McAMS Yamaha at Turn 9 just moments before Matt Truelove did the same with his R1 at Turn 7.
Bradley Ray looked to be making progress with his Suzuki as he shot forward to sixth, just behind Christian Iddon and Brookes, but the Buildbase rider's lap time was quickly cancelled for exceeding track limits.
With just over half the session remaining, Brookes powered past his team-mate to take over second with a 48.009 and just a few laps later he took control as he surged past Buchan to top the times with a 47.827.
But with 16 minutes to go, it was all change at the top as OMG Suzuki's Luke Mossey scorched into the 47s bracket to go third quickest just before Buchan nudged Brookes back to second after clocking a 47.748.
Santander Salt TAG Racing's Dan Linfoot became the fourth rider in the 47s as he went fourth quickest, pushing Redding back to fifth.
Just behind, Tyco BMW's Farmer slipped ahead of his team-mate to go sixth quickest, but back at the front it was a bad end to the day for FP1 leader Brookes as his session finished with a fall at Turn 6.
With two minutes remaining, Redding blasted to the top of the order - 0.081s quicker than Buchan - and held tight to first place as his team-mate had to settle for third.
A late charge put Farmer in fourth ahead of Mossey and Linfoot, while Ray followed them home in seventh.
O'Halloran finished eighth ahead of Iddon and Mackenzie.
