Hickman leads from Ray at Thruxton

Full BSB FP2 results from Thruxton

Peter Hickman has stormed to the front of the Bennetts British Superbike pack by topping the opening free practice session for Smiths Racing BMW at Thruxton where he claimed his last BSB race win 12 months ago.

Hickman leads from Ray at Thruxton

Full BSB FP2 results from Thruxton

Peter Hickman has stormed to the front of the Bennetts British Superbike pack by topping the opening free practice session for Smiths Racing BMW at Thruxton where he claimed his last BSB race win 12 months ago.

The BSB Showdown contender led the early running of FP1 by being the first rider into the 1m 15s bracket in hot conditions at the Hampshire circuit before bettering his best time with a 1m 15.385s during the late time attacks.

The time ensured the Smiths Racing BMW rider held on to top spot at the circuit where he claimed his last BSB win. 12 months ago Hickman finished second to Josh Brookes in race one before going one better with victory in the second race to ignite his top six charge.

Buildbase Suzuki’s Bradley Ray became Hickman’s nearest challenger with his last lap of 1m 15.701s to edge ahead of double Brands Hatch winner Brookes with the 2015 BSB champion shuffled down to third place.

Honda’s Jason O’Halloran impressed with a strong late lap to take fourth spot at the end of FP1 ahead of Luke Mossey on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki. Mossey is another rider who usually produces a strong challenge at Thruxton but 12 months ago suffered a nasty back injury during FP3.

Danny Buchan kept himself in the front pack by taking sixth place for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki in front of BSB rookie Tarran Mackenzie on the McAMS Yamaha and Tyco BMW’s Michael Laverty.

Jake Dixon (RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki) and Richard Cooper (Buildbase Suzuki) rounded out the top ten to push out the top two in the BSB championship standings Leon Haslam (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) in 11th and Glenn Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) in 12th – but both title contenders opted not to hunt a late flying lap.

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