Josh Waters was 15th in his BSB debut on Friday at Brands Hatch.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne got his MCE Insurance British Superbike title defence off to a flying start at Brands Hatch on Friday as he set the pace following the opening two free practice sessions ahead of Sunday’s opening races.

Byrne sat out the morning session due to the cold conditions, but fired himself back to the top of the times in the second session.

“It was a bit frustrating this morning – I was like a kid at Christmas wanting to play!” Byrne said. “This afternoon I feel happier as we have done some laps and I am feeling positive that it can only get better now before Sunday.”

Returning triple champion Ryuichi Kiyonari also sat out the morning session, but in the afternoon was quickly on the pace, topping the times at the half-way point of free practice two before ending in fourth place overall.

Two young-guns separated the triple champions after the second free practice session as Alex Lowes pushed the Samsung Honda to the second fastest time and Tommy Bridewell proved that he will be back in contention with the Bathams Honda squad in third.

James Ellison lapped consistently aboard the Milwaukee Yamaha to be fifth overall on his return to the championship, only 0.036s faster than last year’s runner-up, Josh Brookes on the Tyco Suzuki.

Buildbase BMW’s James Westmoreland ensured five manufacturers were represented in the top ten with his seventh fastest time.

Former multiple British Supersport champion Karl Harris on the PR Racing Kawasaki was marginally faster than Jakub Smrz aboard the Padgett’s Honda with Chris Walker completing the top 10 on the Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki.

Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters rode the second Milwaukee Yamaha to 15th, 1.395s off the pace of Byrne.

Billy McConnell was top Australian in the Supersport ranks, slotting his Triumph into second. Defending champion Glen Richards was seventh, while HM Plant Honda’s Jason O’Halloran was seventh.

The National Superstock 600 series saw Jamies Mutton ninth, Mark Wilkinson 19th and Levi Day 26th.

Click here for detailed results