Bennetts British Superbike Championship leader Bradley Ray began his home round at Brands Hatch by topping the times in SUPERPICKS Free Practice one, displacing Lee Jackson from the leading position in the closing minute of the opening session.
A shower before the start of the session left a damp track, but towards the closing stages of the session, a dry line was forming and the times began to tumble. Ray had the edge at the chequered flag for the Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha team by 0.259s with Jackson eased into second on the Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki.
Peter Hickman was third fastest for the FHO Racing BMW team, also launching up the order in the final stages of the session to push Rory Skinner into fourth place. The Scot had been one of the first riders to head out onto the Grand Prix circuit and ended the session 0.416s off the fastest time of Ray that came on his penultimate lap.
Kyle Ryde was fifth fastest, just ahead of Glenn Irwin for Honda Racing UK. Irwin had been at the top of the times earlier in the session, but the final laps pushed him down the order to finish ahead of Christian Iddon who returns from injury on the Buildbase Suzuki.
Josh Brookes had a spell at the top of the times during the session, but a crash in the final minutes at Druids left him eighth fastest. The double champion ending the session just ahead of Danny Kent and Andrew Irwin who completed the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, SUPERPICKS Free Practice 1:
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) 1m:26.679s
- Lee Jackson (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +0.259s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +0.275s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki) +0.416s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +1.102s
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +1.766s
- Christian Iddon (Buildbase Suzuki) +1.855s
- Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +2.145s
- Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +2.290s
- Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) +2.368s
For the full session result please click here