Virgin Mobile Yamaha's Tommy Hill was the fastest man on track during a wet free practice one at Thruxton ahead of round three of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship which will take place on Easter Monday.

Hill was involved in the first corner smash at the last round of the championship at Donington Park which brought the safety car out on track. Despite being roughed up from this crash he competed in race two and managed a top ten finish which appears to have buoyed him up for this charge at free practice. His lap time was 1min 21.802secs the only rider to hit the 1min 21secs.

Karl Harris on the black HM Plant Honda took up residence in second place with a 1min 22.970sec. Harris will be keen to pull back in as many points as possible after crashing out of the lead of race two last time out at Donington Park.

Another manufacturer took up third place with Leon Haslam on the Airwaves Ducati just ahead of Johnny Rea on the Red Bull Honda. Haslam is still bouncing back from his crash at the Brands Hatch season opener and has had laser treatment on his ankle to aid his recovery.

Jentin Racing rounded out the top five with young Jon Kirkham heading off Stobart's Michael Rutter.

Steve Plater who has moved from Dienza Performance Kawaski to the JJL Honda squad finished free practice in nineteenth. He is also riding in Supersport this weekend replacing the injured Chris Burns who broke his foot at Donington Park. In the Supersport class he finished in eighteenth.

BSB free practice results – Thruxton:

1. Tommy Hill
2. Karl Harris
3. Leon Haslam
4. Johnny Rea
5. Jon Kirkham
6. Michael Rutter
7. Gary Mason
8. Gregorio Lavilla
9. Shane Byrne
10. James Haydon