Dixon leads Irwin in final practice

Full BSB FP3 results from Brands Hatch

Jake Dixon has topped the final practice session of the 2018 Bennetts British Superbike championship on the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki ahead of Be Wiser Ducati’s Glenn Irwin with title rival Leon Haslam surging up to fifth place late on.

The BSB title contender leapt to the top with 15 minutes of the FP3 remaining thanks to a 1m 25.109s, with Irwin going closest in the late time attacks just 0.091s off as the windy conditions restrained the fastest times.

With Irwin’s late improvement, Tarran Mackenzie was shuffled down to third place late on for McAMS Yamaha, recovering from a fall in FP2, with Peter Hickman taking fourth for Smiths Racing BMW.

Haslam’s final surge saw him up to fifth for JG Speedfit Kawasaki, within three-tenths of title rival Dixon, with Richard Cooper missing out in sixth for Buildbase Suzuki.

Luke Mossey also produced FP3 gains to take seventh place for JG Speedfit Kawasaki while Josh Brookes tumbled to eighth place after the 2015 BSB champion suffered a fall unhurt at Sheene Curve.

Andrew Irwin (Be Wiser Ducati) and Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) rounded out the top ten.

Dan Linfoot sat out FP3 after Honda confirmed he’ll take no further part in the race weekend due to the pain from his nasty incident suffered at Assen two weeks ago. Linfoot was struck accidently by Glenn Irwin’s Be Wiser Ducati in race two at the Dutch track but avoided any serious injuries.

Struggling for strength from his left leg and hip, along with pain from internal bruising, Honda has supported Linfoot in deciding to miss the BSB final round.