Josh Brookes stole new term bragging rights as he beat Josh Elliott to the top spot in today’s first Bennetts British Superbike practice session at Silverstone.
The Be Wiser Ducati rider snatched the lead in the closing seconds of qualifying to beat OMG Racing Suzuki’s leading man by just 0.013s.
As the riders rolled out of pit lane for the new season this morning, Superbike returnee Elliott was the first to crack into the 54s bracket before Honda Racing’s Andrew Irwin shot ahead to take over the top spot.
But times continued to tumble as MotoGP exile Scott Redding stuck the PBM Ducati V4 on top ahead of McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran and Luke Mossey.
Former World Supersport runner Luke Stapleford had a brief spell in the top three for Buildbase Suzuki, but was soon eclipsed by O’Halloran and 2015 champ Brookes.
With less than seven minutes to go, Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon jumped to third just as Santander Salt TAG Yamaha man Dan Linfoot broke into the top five.
But a frantic few minutes followed as Iddon knocked Redding off the top spot before being overtaken by Brookes. O’Halloran then pipped Brookes to take over the session lead, but it was former National Superstock champ Elliott who stole the top spot moments later.
Australian Brookes chopped a mere 0.013s off the Northern Irishman’s time, however, and hit the top of the time sheets just as the chequered flag flew, leaving Elliott and O’Halloran to complete the top three.
Stapleford stuck in a late lap to take fourth ahead of Iddon and Redding, with Mossey just a few hundredths behind.
Linfoot, former World Superbike podium finisher Xavi Fores and Andrew Irwin completed the top 10.
