Josh Brookes was back on top in the ZYN British Superbike Championship at Knockhill today, leading the combined Free Practice times in the wet conditions to fire the DAO Racing Honda team ahead of the chasing pack.
As always, the hectic Fife circuit produced incredibly close results with the top 19 riders covered by just 0.921s. However, Brookes mastered the conditions to lead Fraser Rogers by 0.188s, as the TAG Honda rider continued to show his impressive wet pace at Knockhill after sealing his debut BSB podium finish in Scotland last year.
Jason O'Halloran completed an all Honda top three on combined times, keeping the Honda Racing UK team ahead of Storm Stacey on the Bathams AJN Racing Ducati, with Max Cook getting his first wet weather experience on the new AJN Steelstock bimota in fifth position.
Home hero Rory Skinner was sixth fastest on the Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha, edging out Christian Iddon and Sencat Racing Honda and McAMS Yamaha’s Bradley Ray.
Honda riders completed the top ten with Lee Jackson and Ryan Vickers, easing Ilya Mikhalchik into eleventh by just 0.017s for the ROKiT BMW Motorrad British Superbike Race team.
Championship leader Kyle Ryde ended the opening day in 17th position and 0.862s adrift of Brookes’ pace-setting time, with the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing rider choosing to sit out the second session.
The ZYN BSB Pre-Qualifying session was postponed until tomorrow (Saturday) with a revised bumper schedule for Super Scottish Saturday awaiting the Knockhill fans.
ZYN British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, combined Free Practice times:
- Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda) 51.335s
- Fraser Rogers (TAG Honda) +0.188s
- Jason O'Halloran (Honda Racing UK) +0.202s
- Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +0.262s
- Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) +0.282s
- Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +0.285s
- Christian Iddon (Sencat Racing Yamaha) +0.318s
- Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.343s
- Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +0.357s
- Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +0.399s