James Ellison topped the times in a hectic opening free practice session for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship on the Brands Hatch Indy circuit this morning. The 45 minute session saw seven different riders having a spell at the top before the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider claimed the advantage in the final minutes, with just 0.810s covering the top 17 riders.

As the session got underway Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was one of the first to post a flying lap for the Be Wiser Ducati team, later dropping to eleventh at the end of the session, but just 0.569s off Ellison’s pace-setting time.

Three-time champion Ryuichi Kiyonari was then the next rider to push ahead in the early stages on the Bennetts Suzuki; the Japanese contender climbing up the charts and ended the session within the top ten ahead of the second session this afternoon.

Luke Mossey held third position at the end of the session on the Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki; he had been another rider to push himself to the top position in the closing stages, but the hectic final moments saw him drop to third, narrowly ahead of Leon Haslam on the second JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Tommy Bridewell made it both Bennetts Suzukis in the top five as he pushed ahead of championship leader Christian Iddon on the first of the Tyco BMWs in sixth place. Honda Racing were also in close contention with Jason O'Halloran holding seventh position, becoming the fourth manufacturer in the top ten.

Michael Laverty made it both Tyco BMWs in the top ten in eighth place with Jakub Smrz for Smiths Racing BMW and Kiyonari rounding out the leading ten who were covered by just half a second.

FS3 Racing Kawasaki’s Billy McConnell had started the session strongly; running inside the top five until he crashed out unhurt at Clark Curve and Howie Mainwaring also ended his session prematurely when he crashed, but was also unhurt, at Paddock Hill Bend.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch Indy, Free Practice 1:

James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 45.698s
Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +0.171s
Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +0.189s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.239s
Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.317s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.329s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.378s
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +0.399s
Jakub Smrz (Smiths Racing BMW) +0.455s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.512s


The next round of the MCE British Superbike Championship takes place at Brands Hatch (May 20-22), for more information and to book please visit http://www.brandshatch.co.uk