Keith Farmer mastered a wet track in free practice at Donington Park.

Wet track conditions caused a shake-up of the British Superbike Championship running order on opening day at Donington Park, with Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rookie Keith Farmer rounding out free practice on top.

Samsung Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari had the top spot but was demoted to second by a 0.001-second margin as Farmer upped the pace on his final flying lap.

Kiyonari’s teammate and first of the confirmed Title Fighters, Alex Lowes, was third-fastest, from Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland and points leader, Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne.

Josh Waters was the fastest of the two Aussies in the group, lapping 4.773 seconds off Farmer’s pace in 11th. Josh Brookes followed in 13th.

A complete wash-out in the first free practice saw only two riders setting times in the torrid conditions. The top spot in FP1 went the way of Rapido Sport Racing Ducati’s Matteo Baiocco, who backed up with a solid eighth to end the day.

In the Supersport ranks riders faced changing conditions, with the opening free practice run in the wet, while the second was run in cloudy, drying conditions.

Gearlink Kawasaki’s Ben Wilson set the quickest time of the day before the rain set in during the first practice, a 1m48.90 lap.

The afternoon session belonged to Aussie Jason O’Halloran, who finished 1.250 seconds clear of the field on his Samsung Honda.

Fellow Aussie Glen Richards claimed a top 10 time in practice, while previous round race winner Billy McConnell did not register a time in either session.

In the support classes, Filip Backlund set the fastest Superstock 1000 qualifying lap, with David Johnson 26th. Michael Robertson topped Superstock 600, with Levi Day 21st, Mark Wilkinson 28th and James Mutton 35th.

2013 British Superbike Championship
Round nine – Donington Park

Superbike free practice:
1. Keith FARMER 1:49.726
2. Ryuichi KIYONARI 1:49.727
3. Alex LOWES GBR 1:50.720
4. James WESTMORELAND 1:51.078
5. Shane BYRNE 1:51.177
6. Tommy BRIDEWELL 1:51.589
7. James ELLISON 1:51.705
8. Matteo BAIOCCO 1:53.005
9. Jon KIRKHAM 1:53.831
10. Michael RUTTER 1:54.412
11. Josh WATERS (AUS) 1:54.499
13. Josh BROOKES (AUS) 1:55.649

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