Peter Hickman fired the FHO Racing BMW to the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship SUPERPICKS Free Practice times at Donington Park, setting a pace under the existing lap record to edge out championship leader Jason O'Halloran by 0.122s in the closing moments.
O’Halloran had continued to set the benchmark earlier in the session, but the McAMS Yamaha rider crashed out unhurt at Coppice and was then sidelined for the remainder of SUPERPICKS Free Practice 2.
Hickman’s flying lap came in the final moments of another incredibly close session where the top 18 riders were covered by less than a second, with Kyle Ryde in 18th just 0.934s adrift of the leading time.
Hickman said: “It has been a pretty good start to Donington Park in the free practice sessions! I am normally not as fast on the first day, so to actually be fast straight away is really good for me.
“The FHO Racing BMW has been working really well. We made a few tweaks between sessions and it felt instantly that we went in the right direction straight away.
“I feel really comfortable and the time came fairly easily – or as easy as it can in this game! The times are so close so I am definitely happy to be P1 so far.”
Ryan Vickers had another impressive session on the RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki to end the opening day third fastest, just ahead of VisionTrack Ducati pairing Christian Iddon and Josh Brookes, who continued his resurgence to complete the top five.
Rory Skinner delivered a strong end to his session to climb into sixth position for the FS-3 Kawasaki team ahead of Honda Racing’s Glenn Irwin and the second FHO Racing BMW of Xavi Forés.
Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW), Lee Jackson (FS-3 Kawasaki), Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) and Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) completed the SUPERPICKS 12 who progress directly into tomorrow’s pole-position deciding Q2 session.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, SUPERPICKS Free Practice combined times:
1. Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) 1m:06.156s
2. Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.122s
3. Ryan Vickers (RAF Regular and Reserve Kawasaki) +0.134s
4. Christian Iddon (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.228s
5. Josh Brookes (VisionTrack Ducati) +0.276s
6. Rory Skinner (FS-3 Kawasaki) +0.292s
7. Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.323s
8. Xavi Forés (FHO Racing BMW) +0.361s
9. Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.380s
10. Lee Jackson (FS-3 Kawasaki) +0.403s
11. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Products Racing Ducati) +0.423s
12. Danny Kent (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.451s