Shane 'Shakey' Byrne topped the times in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship free practice session of the season at Donington Park as the Be Wiser Ducati rider held the advantage from Jake Dixon on the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki.
Rookie Kyle Ryde made an impressive debut to set the third fastest time on the CF Motorsport Yamaha, moving ahead of McAMS Yamaha’s Josh Brookes and home hero Leon Haslam on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.
Glenn Irwin posted the sixth fastest time but his session ended prematurely when he crashed at Goddards, the Be Wiser Ducati transported to Queens Hospital for further assessment after neck pain.
Gino Rea was seventh fastest ahead of Jakub Smrz with Danny Buchan and Michael Laverty completing the top ten.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Free Practice 1:
Shane Byrne (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:50.317s
Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) +1.437s
Kyle Ryde (CF Motorsport Yamaha Motorsport Yamaha) +1.857s
Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) +2.674s
Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +2.888s
Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) +3.317s
Gino Rea (OMG Racing Suzuki) +4.312s
Jakub Smrz (PR Racing Lloyd & Jones Bowker BMW) +4.912s
Danny Buchan (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +5.225s
Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) +5.550s
SHAKEY LEADS DIXON AS 2018 SEASON GETS UNDERWAY AT DONINGTON PARK
![[Image: shakeywithflag.jpg]](http://www.ttwebsite.com/gifs/2018/BSB/shakeywithflag.jpg)
![[Image: bsblogo.jpg]](http://www.ttwebsite.com/gifs/2018/BSB/bsblogo.jpg)