The break is over and Alex Lowes kicked off the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill by setting the pace, but it was a resurgent Ryuichi Kiyonari who he headed off for the top spot as the former champion was second fastest with Samsung Honda topping the times.

Lowes had started the session strongly, improving throughout the session to maintain his place at the top. Kiyonari's time put him 0.388 seconds adrift of his team-mate as Samsung Honda led out of the blocks. The Honda charge didn't end there though as in the final minutes Peter Hickman pushed himself up the order as the Lloyds British GBmoto Honda rider ended third fastest to displace defending champion Shane 'Shakey' Byrne.

The BMW charge was headed by James Westmoreland who split the Lloyds British GBmoto Honda pairing as Dan Linfoot ended the first session in sixth on his return from injury. Josh Brookes was seventh fastest as he gets back into circuit racing after his recent roads stint as he dropped a place in the closing stages. Tommy Bridewell had a moment at the Hairpin which slowed his progress towards the end of the session but still maintained his position in the top ten with PJ Jacobsen and Michael Rutter completing the top ten.


MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, free practice one:

Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 48.969s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Samsung Honda) +0.388s
Peter Hickman (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.531s
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.613s
James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +0.690s
Dan Linfoot (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.707s
Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.752s
Tommy Bridewell (Bathams Honda) +1.135s
PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +1.142s
Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) +1.181s

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