Christian Iddon made the best of the drying track conditions this morning at Oulton Park to top the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship free practice times for the Tyco BMW team, setting the fastest lap of the session on his final run to topple Josh Brookes from the top by 2.937s.
The session got underway in damp conditions but with a dry lining forming the times tumbled throughout the session with Brookes the first rider to make the biggest improvement onboard the Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha.
Iddon was on a charge, setting the pace and then improving to extend his position at the top from the leading Showdown contender Brookes with rookie Bradley Ray excelling to finish third fastest ahead of Sylvain Guintoli on the Bennetts Suzuki.
Jakub Smrz had a strong session in fifth place for the Lloyd & Jones PR Racing BMW team ahead of Jake Dixon and Jason O'Halloran as the pair gear up for the opening Showdown races. Championship leader Shane 'Shakey' Byrne was eighth fastest ahead of Tommy Bridewell and Lee Jackson.
Leon Haslam was 16th fastest, just ahead of Peter Hickman as the pair opted to only completed a handful of laps.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Oulton Park, Free Practice one:
1.Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) 1m:42.734s
2.Josh Brookes (Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha) +2.937s
3.Bradley Ray (Buildbase Suzuki) +3.091s
4.Sylvain Guintoli (Bennetts Suzuki) +3.165s
5.Jakub Smrz (Lloyd & Jones PR Racing BMW) +3.472s
6.Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +4.241s
7.Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +5.048s
8.Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +5.075s
9.Tommy Bridewell (Team WD-40 Kawasaki) +5.094s
10.Lee Jackson (Smiths Racing BMW) +5.784s
Showdown spoiler Iddon leads the way from Brookes at Oulton Park
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