Bathams AJN Racing BMW’s Storm Stacey topped the opening free practice session for the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Knockhill, moving ahead of Danny Kent on the McAMS Racing Yamaha in the closing two minutes of the session.
A typically close session meant the top 13 riders were covered by less than a second, with 0.960s separating Stacey with reigning champion Kyle Ryde in 13th place at the end of Free Practice one.
Kent had been holding the position as Rory Skinner was also pushing towards the top; the Cheshire Mouldings Ducati rider had been fastest in the final ten minutes before the improved times from Stacey and Kent.
Tommy Bridewell was fourth fastest to lead the Hondas, after also having a turn at the top of the times earlier in the session. The 2023 champion stayed ahead of the leading AJN Steelstock Kawasaki of Christian Iddon, who had also had a spell at the top with 20 minutes remaining.
Fraser Rogers was sixth fastest for TAG Honda ahead of Whitecliffe CDH Racing Honda’s Luke Hedger, with the pair maintaining strong positions at the end of the opening session. Charlie Nesbitt completed the top eight ahead of Josh Brookes, who had a crash earlier in the session at turn three, and DAO Racing Honda teammate Lee Jackson.
Scott Redding made his return to the Bennetts British Superbike Championship, getting his first taste of the Hager PBM Ducati in the wet conditions, to send the session in 15th place and 1.104s adrift of Stacey after completing 31 laps as he gets to grips with the Ducati V4 R.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, Free Practice one result:
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing BMW) 51.799s
- Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) +0.100s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +0.379s
- Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.443s
- Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +0.488s
- Fraser Rogers (TAG Honda) +0.531s
- Luke Hedger (Whitecliffe CDH Racing Honda) +0.559s
- Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.586s
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) +0.739s
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +0.821s
For the full session result please click here