Byrne tops opening 2018 BSB session

Click here for full BSB FP1 resutls from Donington Park

Defending Bennetts British Superbike champion Shane Byrne has produced the ideal start to his 2018 campaign by topping the wet opening free practice session which was prematurely red flagged by a nasty fall for Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin.

Byrne tops opening 2018 BSB session

Click here for full BSB FP1 resutls from Donington Park

Defending Bennetts British Superbike champion Shane Byrne has produced the ideal start to his 2018 campaign by topping the wet opening free practice session which was prematurely red flagged by a nasty fall for Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin.

The six-time BSB champion headed the times for the majority of the opening session, held in light rain and chilly conditions, as the 2018 grid got up to speed at the Leicestershire circuit. The dash for late lap times to challenge Byrne was cancelled after his teammate Irwin suffered a crash at Goddards hairpin which triggered a red flag with just under three minutes remaining.

With the Northern Irish rider requiring medical attention on track the remainder of the session was called off to hand Byrne top spot by over a second from Jake Dixon on the RAF Reserves Kawasaki.

BSB rookie Kyle Ryde caught the eye for CF Motorsport Yamaha in third place ahead of 2015 BSB champion Josh Brookes on the McAMS Yamaha with JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam in fifth.

OMG Racing Suzuki’s Gino Rea was another newcomer to catch the eye in seventh place, just behind the stricken Irwin who ended the session sixth quickest, with Jakub Smrz (Lloyd & Jones/PR Racing BMW), Danny Buchan (FS-3 Racing Kawasaki) and Michael Laverty (Tyco BMW) completing the top ten.

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