Jason O'Halloran kicked off the first day of the 2022 Championship in style by setting the fastest ever Bennetts British Superbike lap of Silverstone National, topping the timesheets in the SUPERPICKS Free practice sessions to head off his title rivals in preparation for tomorrow’s season opening race.
O’Halloran was one of five riders to set a pace under the existing circuit lap record during today’s action, with the leading 24 riders separated by just 0.954s and just 0.040s separating the Australian from Yamaha rival Kyle Ryde at the top of the times.
Whilst Yamaha locked out the leading two positions, Lee Jackson surged up the order in the final five minutes to move into third place for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, splitting the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha teammates.
Bradley Ray had a stint of leading the afternoon session until the closing stages but he held the fourth fastest position at the end of day one, narrowly ahead of Christian Iddon in fifth place on the Buildbase Suzuki.
Rory Skinner was sixth fastest as the young Scot ensured both FS-3 Racing Kawasaki riders featured inside the top 12, and there was a strong end to the session for Ryan Vickers as his penultimate lap this afternoon moved him up the order into seventh place.
Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell was eighth fastest and the leading Ducati contender, edging out Danny Buchan on the SYNETIQ BMW by just an incredible 0.002s.
Andrew Irwin was in tenth place, just ahead of Josh Brookes and Dan Linfoot who completed the top 12 riders who will progress directly into tomorrow’s Q2 decider for pole position.
World Superbike returnees Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes will feature in tomorrow’s SUPERPICKS Q1 session, ending the opening day in 14th and 18th respectively.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, SUPERPICKS 12:
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) 53.107s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.040s
- Lee Jackson (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.097s
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.108s
- Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.192s
- Rory Skinner (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) +0.236s
- Ryan Vickers (FHO Racing BMW) +0.356s
- Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.363s
- Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.365s
- Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.378s
- Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +0.383s
- Dan Linfoot (iForce BMW) +0.404s
For the full session listing, please click here
To find out more about the SUPERPICKS Qualifying format please click here