Oulton BSB: Haslam edges Ellison in opening session

JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam was the only rider to lap a sub 1’35, during the first MCE British Superbike free practice session at Oulton Park, and pipped his team-mate James Ellison on the timing screens, going nearly two tenths quicker than the Cumbrian, with a 1’34.953.

It appeared that Ellison would set the pace going into the afternoon’s proceedings lapping a quick 1’35.162, but on his penultimate lap his fellow ZX-10R racer went 0.2 seconds faster and into the P1 position on the sheets.

It was a Kawasaki top three, with Quattro Plant’s Luke Mossey ending FP1 third quickest and only 0.3s separated the trio, with the father-to-be setting a 1’25.238 time.

The session was red flagged after the Bennetts Suzuki of Tommy Bridewell experienced a technical issue and oil leaked out on to the track, and FP1 was halted for a short while.

Before the stoppage, it was current championship leader, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne who topped the sheets, with Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran and Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon in tow. At the flag Byrne dropped down to fourth after a 1’25.247 rotation.

O’Halloran, Iddon, Cooper, Irwin, Hickman, Hopkins and Laverty completed the top twelve. Smiths Racing’s newest recruit, Ryuichi Kiyonari was getting himself accustomed to riding a S1000RR again and finished just behind his new garage buddy, Jakub Smrz in 19th at the Cheshire track.