Glenn Irwin fired the Hager PBM Ducati to the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice times, saving his best for last in a hectic final lap to top the times by just 0.131s as five manufacturers featured inside the top six ahead of tomorrow’s opening race at Brands Hatch.
The competition was fierce in Free Practice and after the opening session the top 13 riders were covered by just 0.895s, but that intensified further in the afternoon with just 0.993s separating the top 17 contenders.
Irwin’s flying lap wasn’t without moments including touching the grass at Stirling, but he managed to hold off his nemesis Tommy Bridewell as the pair prepare to go head-to-head on the Grand Prix circuit tomorrow for the first time since their epic title fight last October.
Ryan Vickers had topped the morning session and the OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing rider claimed third place, just 0.013s ahead of Leon Haslam for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team with Danny Kent completing the top five.
Jason O'Halloran made it five manufacturers inside the top six on the Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki with Andrew Irwin making it two Honda Racing UK contenders in the top eight.
Christian Iddon and Lee Jackson were separated by just 0.003s, with Josh Brookes and Peter Hickman holding tenth and eleventh positions. Charlie Nesbitt held the final position of the riders who progress directly into Speedy Hire Qualifying 2 tomorrow.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:
- Glenn Irwin (Hager PBM Ducati) 1m:25.853s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.131s
- Ryan Vickers (OMG GRILLA Yamaha Racing) +0.144s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Team) +0.157s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.228s
- Jason O'Halloran (Completely Motorbikes Kawasaki) +0.336s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.352s
- Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.363s
- Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda) +0.366s
- Josh Brookes (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad Team) +0.457s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.536s
For the full session result please click here