Leon Haslam narrowly topped the times in the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship free practice session at Oulton Park, taking the top position in the final two minutes from his JG Speedfit Kawasaki team-mate James Ellison.

Haslam was the only rider to dip into the 1m:34s lap times with his final run of the session, pushing Ellison back into second place in the final moments having only just moved to the top in the last five minutes.

Luke Mossey was closing in too as he bids for a Showdown position; the Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki rider pushing ahead of Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and Jason O'Halloran who completed the top five.

Another Showdown contender, Christian Iddon was sixth fastest as he got nudged back down the order in the final ten minutes after moving as high as second during the second half of the session, but only just staying ahead of Showdown rivals Dan Linfoot and Richard Cooper who completed the top eight.

Glenn Irwin had another strong session to return to the top ten on the second Be Wiser Ducati in ninth ahead of Peter Hickman on the third JG Speedfit Kawasaki. Michael Laverty who currently holds fourth place in the standings was twelfth with Tommy Bridewell in fourteenth position after a technical problem which halted his session.

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

Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) 1m:34.953s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.209s
Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) +0.285s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 0.294s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.337s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.398s
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.568s
Richard Cooper (Buildbase BMW) +0.683s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.691s
Peter Hickman (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.698s