Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes led the way on opening day at Silverstone.

Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes pounced on British Superbike Championship (BSB) rival Shane Byrne to displace the Rapid Solicitors Kawaskai rider to second on the opening day of the series’ penultimate round at Silverstone.

Lowes waited until the very last lap of the session to set a 2m08.651 benchmark time, 0.251s clear of Byrne.

“It was good, though still a bit damp in places and we got some good data together,” said Lowes of his effort in the afternoon session. “The bike was good and I love this circuit so now I am looking forward confidently to the rest of the weekend.

“It was a case of getting out there, doing the job but not doing anything silly as there is a lot on the line in these last two rounds.”

Despite being relegated to second, Byrne was happy with the results achieved after the second free practice as the team was bedding in a brand new bike for their push for the title.

“To be honest I really needed to ride in the morning as I had a brand new bike and it needed to go around the track so we just did a few laps in the wet because of that,” said Byrne.

“The afternoon was really, really good. We have a couple of things that we need to work on but I am really happy.”

Aussie Josh Brookes, fastest in the damp morning session on his Tyco Suzuki, was an encouraging third, and just one-hundredth of a second off Byrne’s pace.

For Brookes, being out of the two-way battle up front leaves him to get on with the task.

Just 24 points behind, he feels he can surprise and is already showing strong pace this weekend.

“I’m pretty happy that Shakey [Shane Byrne] and Lowes are in the spotlight, as it leaves me to do my own thing in terms of preparation,” said Brookes.

“The fact that the focus is drawn on them, means I won’t be harassed that much for photos and interviews. It’s maybe a blessing in disguise, but the people that are writing me off need to be careful, as this championship isn’t over yet.”

Milwaukee Yamaha’s James Ellison ran fourth after leading the session briefly, with Padgetts Honda’s Jakub Smrz fifth.

Aussie Josh Waters finished the day 15th fastest in his first ride aboard a Kawasaki Superbike with Halsall Racing.

In the earlier practice session he had run a competitive third in wet conditions, showing his adaptability.

Australia’s Jason O’Halloran topped the British Supersport Championship free practice proceedings, with the Samsung Honda lapping 0.168s clear of Gearlink Kawasaki’s Alastair Seeley.

MarTrain Yamaha’s Stuart Easton was third fastest from Oxford TAG Triumph’s Richard Cooper and Triumph Techare’s Luke Mossey.

Smiths Triumphs Aussie Glen Richards ended the day in ninth after topping the earlier free practice session; teammate and countryman Billy McConnell was 11th.

ILR Kawasaki’s Filip Backlund led the way in Superstock 1000 qualifying one, with Aussie David Johnson solid in second on the Four Anjels ZX-10R.

Victor Cox was third, carrying on a trend of Kawasakis in the top 10, with only on other marque making its way into the mix.

Jordan Simpkin led Superstock 600 qualifying on his Team AHR Go Racing Yamaha, with Ben Godfrey and Callan Cooper, also Yamaha R6-mounted, second and third.

Gearlink Kawasaki’s Mark Wilkinson was the first Aussie home in eighth, with Levi Day 24th and James Mutton 31st.

British Superbike Championship
Round 11 – Silverstone

Superbike practice:
1. Alex LOWES 2m08.651
2. Shane BYRNE 2m08.902
3. Josh BROOKES 2m08.912
4. James ELLISON 2m09.088
5. Jakub SMRZ 2m09.546
6. Matteo BAIOCCO 2m09.561
7. Michael RUTTER 2m09.675
8. Peter HICKMAN 2m09.749
9. Chris WALKER 2m09.828
10. PJ JACOBSEN 2m09.903
15. Josh WATERS (AUS) 2m10.632

Supersport practice:
1. Jason O’HALLORAN 2m14.517
2. Alastair SEELEY 2m14.685
3. Stuart EASTON 2m15.316
4. Richard COOPER 2m15.746
5. Luke MOSSEY 2m15.875
6. Luke STAPLEFORD 2m15.901
7. Taylor MACKENZIE 2m15.934
8. Ben WILSON 2m16.044
9. Glen RICHARDS 2m16.140
10. Graeme GOWLAND 2m16.144
11. Billy McCONNELL (AUS) 2m16.646

Click here for detailed results