Redding leads Fores at Assen in opening practice
Scott Redding has produced the perfect start to his Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown by topping FP1 at Assen for Be Wiser Ducati.
Scott Redding has produced the perfect start to his Bennetts British Superbike Championship Showdown by topping FP1 at Assen for Be Wiser Ducati.
The ex-MotoGP rider, who has claimed a premier class Grand Prix podium in his career st the Dutch track, notched up a late 1m 36.685s to lead by almost half a second ahead of Honda’s Xavi Fores – another rider with extensive Assen experience from his World Superbike campaigns.
Danny Buchan grabbed third place ahead of his maiden BSB Showdown for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki fresh from re-signing with the team for 2020.
Glenn Irwin acted as a Showdown spoiler for Tyco BMW ahead of championship leader Josh Brookes on the Be Wiser Ducati.
Fellow ex-World Superbike rider Hector Barbera also used his Assen track experience to surge up to sixth place for Quattro Plant Kawasaki to see Tommy Bridewell edged down to seventh place for Oxford Racing Ducati.
Luke Stapleford led the Buildbase Suzuki in eighth as Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) and Andrew Irwin (Honda) rounded out the top 10.
Fellow BSB Showdown contenders Peter Hickman (Smiths Racing) and Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) endured slow starts to their Assen weekends in 13th and 21st respectively on the FP1 times.
James Ellison, making his OMG Racing Suzuki debut, suffered an early FP1 off at Turn 9 after leaving the MV Agusta squad after just one round.
With Assen hosting the opening round of the 2019 BSB Showdown, the series heads to Donington Park’s GP circuit for the penultimate round before a three-race finale at Brands Hatch next month.
