Josh Brookes and Tyco Suzuki returned to the top of the times in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship free practice session in the damp morning conditions at Silverstone as he remained ahead of Milwaukee Yamaha's James Ellison.

The damp session was initially led by Dan Linfoot on the Lloyds British GBmoto Honda, before Jakub Smrz had his turn at the top of the times for Padgetts Honda. However with just over ten minutes remaining Brookes moved from second to the top as he prepares to close the deficit in the standings this weekend.


Ellison fired the Milwaukee Yamaha into second in the final minutes of the session as he moved ahead of Josh Waters who made his debut with the Halsall Racing Kawasaki team with Smrz rounding out the session in fourth.

PJ Jacobsen on the second Tyco Suzuki was fifth fastest ahead of standings leader Shane 'Shakey' Byrne, whose closest rival Alex Lowes chose to sit out the opening session. Linfoot was seventh fastest ahead of Matteo Baiocco on the Rapido Sport Racing Ducati. Karl Harris was ninth as he bounced back from an early session crash with Tommy Bridewell completing the top ten.

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

Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) 2m:25.509s
James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.657s
Josh Waters (Halsall Racing Kawasaki) +1.472s
Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) +1.801s
PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +1.975s
Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +2.207s
Dan Linfoot (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +2.964s
Matteo Baiocco (Rapido Sport Racing Ducati) +3.612s
Karl Harris (PR Racing Kawasaki) +4.290s
Tommy Bridewell (Milwaukee Yamaha) +4.869s

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