Irwin edges Dixon in FP2, Haslam P6

Full BSB FP2 results from Brands Hatch GP

Glenn Irwin has ended Friday fastest at the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship final round for Be Wiser Ducati fractionally ahead of title challenger Jake Dixon with points leader Leon Haslam slotting into sixth place.

Be Wiser Ducati’s Irwin, who claimed pole position at the summer Brands Hatch GP round earlier this season, jumped to the top of the times with his opening lap in the final runs of FP2 before improving on his best effort with a 1m 25.233s.

That kept the Northern Irish rider ahead of Dixon on the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki by just 0.007s with both riders demonstrating impressive long run pace.

Josh Brookes, a dominant double winner at Brands Hatch GP in July, slotted into third place for McAMS Yamaha ending the session within one tenth of the front two with Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon impressing as a BSB Showdown spoiler in fourth place.

FP1’s fastest rider Peter Hickman kept his place at the front by taking fifth for Smiths Racing BMW just in front of BSB championship leader Leon Haslam once the chequered flag came out for the end of the second session.

Haslam, who has a huge 61-point advantage in the standings, can seal a maiden BSB crown in the opening race at Brands Hatch on Saturday if the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider concedes fewer than 11 points to Dixon.

Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper continued to impress in seventh place, while his BSB Showdown-fighting team-mate Bradley Ray struggled down in 15^th, with Gino Rea in eighth for OMG Racing Suzuki despite a late crash at Surtees.

Tarran Mackenzie held on to ninth place for McAMS Yamaha following a fall at Surtees with just over 15 minutes in FP2 remaining, as James Ellison rounded out the top 10 for Anvil Hire Yamaha.

Danny Kent continued to get up to speed on his BSB debut weekend with the 2015 Moto3 world champion ending the second session in 24^th place for Movuno.com Halsall Suzuki – 2.8s off the top time from Irwin.