Former Bennetts British Superbike king Josh Brookes set the early pace in testing at Spain’s Monteblanco circuit this morning, putting in a 1’38.285 to already go underneath the best time set by Scott Redding at the same time last year.
Brookes, who has remained with Paul Bird’s Vision Track Ducati team, has a two-tenth advantage over new team-mate Christan Iddon who has adapted well to the Panigale V4R after 80 years on the inline-four BMW.
Youngster Ryan Vickers put the RAF Reserves Kawasaki in third place with a 1’38.546 with McAMS Yamaha Aussie Jason O’Halloran in fourth and half a second further back.
Smith’s BMW’s Peter Hickman has started well, putting his S1000RR in fifth place, just ahead of the Oxford Ducati of Tommy Bridewell who topped a majority of the session.
Luke Mossey is making his debut on the Rich Energy OMG BMW and he is 1.3s off the pace in seventh. Dan Linfoot got his first taste of the 2020 R1 in eighth with Hector Barbera on the second Rich BMW in ninth.
Jack Kennedy, having his first run out on the Santander TAG Yamaha, completed the top ten with a 1’40.138.
