Kyle Ryde set the pace as the Bennetts British Superbike Championship kicked off the 2023 season in the sunshine at Silverstone; firing the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha to the top of the times as just 0.955s covered the top 20 contenders.
Ryde held the edge by 0.120s over Tommy Bridewell who surged into second on the BeerMonster Ducati in the final five minutes of the session with Andrew Irwin also improving his time in the closing stages to complete the top three.
Leon Haslam had moved to the top of the times with five minutes remaining but he dropped to fourth at the chequered flag with the last lap improvements from his rivals. Danny Buchan had also featured at the top of the timing screens during the earlier stages of the session and he completed the top five for SYNETIQ BMW.
Jason O'Halloran led the McAMS Yamaha riders in sixth place, heading off Peter Hickman who led the charge for FHO Racing BMW Motorrad. There was almost nothing between Hickman and Jack Kennedy with just 0.001s separating the pair at the chequered flag.
Glenn Irwin on the second BeerMonster Ducati and Ryan Vickers on the LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha completed the top ten riders, with the top 20 covered by just 0.955s.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Silverstone, Free Practice 1 result:
- Kyle Ryde (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) 53.545s
- Tommy Bridewell (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.120s
- Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.146s
- Leon Haslam (ROKiT BMW Motorrad) +0.150s
- Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +0.173s
- Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.211s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW Motorrad) +0.287s
- Jack Kennedy (Mar-Train Yamaha) +0.307s
- Glenn Irwin (BeerMonster Ducati) +0.308s
- Ryan Vickers (LAMI OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.450s
For the full session result please click here