Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill got his Showdown underway by topping the times in the opening free practice session at Donington Park, as several of the Title Fighters had a brief spell at the top before the championship leader held the advantage in the final two minutes of the session.

The opening practice session marked a significant moment in BSB history as the MSS Colchester Kawasaki ran for the first time to the 2012 technical regulations and Gary Mason was one of the first riders out on circuit. Mason was the fastest rider on circuit in the early stages but ended the session fourteenth on a drying track.

Several of the Title Fighters waited for the conditions to improve before they ventured out on circuit, with Josh Brookes the first of the six to leave pitlane on the Relentless Suzuki by TAS and he continued to move up the order, running fifth for the final eight minutes before a final improvement at the end saw him leapfrog Shane 'Shakey' Byrne on the first of the HM Plant Hondas in fifth.

Michael Laverty on the second of the Swan Yamahas had spent a brief time at the top of the times but with just over 20 minutes of the session remaining he crashed at Craner Curves, but was able to rejoin and return to the garage. He had managed to slow before dropping the Swan Yamaha, so the damage was minimal and he was able to return to the garage. Laverty was then back out on circuit in the final ten minutes, moving up the order to move second as Swan Yamaha locked out the top two positions.

John Hopkins returns from injury this weekend and the Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki rider was leading the times with just under ten minutes of the session remaining before some frantic final laps saw him shuffled back to sixth as team-mate Jon Kirkham briefly went fastest before ending third whilst Brookes and Byrne also improved.

The Mirrro.co.uk BSB Evo WFR Honda team again returned to the top ten with Graeme Gowland and Glen Richards running seventh and eighth respectively. Ryuichi Kiyonari, the last of the six Title Fighters was ninth on the second HM Plant Hondas after a slow start to his session that only saw him break inside the top ten in the final two minutes. Chris Walker on the Pr1mo Kawasaki rounded out the top ten, with Alex Lowes the leading Motorpoint Yamaha in sixteenth and Ian Lowry debuting with the MSS Colchester Kawasaki team in 20th.

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

Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 1m:31.283s
Michael Laverty (Swan Yamaha) +1.060s
Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +1.195s
Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +1.252s
Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) +1.436s
John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) +1.511s
Glen Richards (WFR Honda) +1.743s
Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +1.848s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +2.113s
Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) +2.121s