Ryuichi Kiyonari topped the opening MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship free practice session at Brands Hatch this morning as the Buildbase BMW rider fended off Shane 'Shakey' Byrne as the top 23 riders were covered by just 0.828s!

Kiyonari had been heading the times after Josh Brookes initially led after the opening laps, but the Japanese rider is ready to make amends for a disappointing opening weekend at Donington Park.

Byrne was forced to settle for second, but James Ellison was closing in on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki as he held third place from Danny Buchan who moved up to fourth in the closing minutes of the opening session.

Jakub Smrz was a late rider to improve too as the Lloyds British Ducati rider pushed his way up to fifth, pushing Brookes to sixth on the Milwaukee Yamaha with Jason O'Halloran for the Honda Racing team in seventh position.

Howie Mainwaring was eighth fastest ahead of Billy McConnell, who had been running in the top five for the Smiths Racing team before his rivals improved in the closing moments with Tommy Bridewell completing the top ten for Tyco BMW.

The session had been briefly red flagged when Honda Racing's Dan Linfoot crashed out at Clearways. The Donington Park podium finisher was taken to the medical centre for an x-ray for a suspected fracture to his wrist. Further update to follow.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, free practice one:

Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 46.113s
Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.027s
James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.199s
Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.211s
Jakub Smrz (Lloyds British Ducati) +0.291s
Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.305s
Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing) +0.321s
Howie Mainwaring (Quattro Plant Kawasaki) +0.359s
Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW) +0.433s
Tommy Bridewell (Tyco BMW) +0.442s