Luke Mossey waited until the final moments of the opening free practice session on the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown decider weekend at Brands Hatch to hold off James Ellison at the chequered flag.

In an incredibly close session where the top 14 riders were covered by 0.9s, Ellison started by setting the initial benchmark before Byrne moved to the top. The championship leader held the position at the top until the closing stages when a last flurry of laps saw Mossey hit the top from Ellison and John Hopkins on the ePayMe Yamaha, pushing the Be Wiser Ducati rider back to fourth.

Dan Linfoot was fifth fastest for Honda Racing ahead of Christian Iddon and title contender Leon Haslam in seventh place. Broc Parkes made it both ePayMe Yamahas inside the top ten with Lee Jackson and Tommy Bridewell completing the top ten.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Free Practice one:

Luke Mossey (Quattro Plant Teccare Kawasaki) 1m:25.805s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.062s
John Hopkins (ePayMe Yamaha) +0.088s
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.262s
Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.299s
Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.313s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.358s
Broc Parkes (ePayMe Yamaha) +0.445s
Lee Jackson (Buildbase BMW) +0.580s
Tommy Bridewell (Bennetts Suzuki) +0.592s