Title Fighter Josh Brookes asserted his authority in the opening free practice session by topping the times at Oulton Park as the season Showdown got underway in the sunshine this morning.

Brookes led the majority of the session after getting quickly dialled in on the HM Plant Honda to remain ahead of nearest Title Fighter rival and team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari who moved second in the final minutes just 0.3 seconds adrift.

Michael Rutter on the Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati was nudged to third with Kiyonari's improvement, but he stayed ahead of the fourth of the Title Fighters Michael Laverty on the Relentless Suzuki.

Gary Mason was the first on the non-Title Fighters in fifth for the MSS Colchester Kawasaki team, with Buildbase Kawasaki' John Laverty next up in sixth. They edged Tommy Hill further down the order as the championship leader set a lap time to put the Worx Crescent Suzuki seventh fastest.

Dan Linfoot on the Motorpoint Yamaha was eighth despite a crash at Brittens on the final lap of the session and Chris Walker and James Ellison rounded out the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, free practice one:

Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 1m:34.804s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.320s
Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +0.424s
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.559s
Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.686s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +0.894s
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.901s
Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) +0.903s
Chris Walker (Sorrymate.com SMT Honda) +1.152s
James Ellison (Swan Honda) +1.162s