Glenn Irwin set the pace in the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship SUPERPICKS Free Practice session, topping the times for Honda Racing UK to push Bradley Ray back into second by 0.160s at the chequered flag.
Peter Hickman surged into third place on his final lap for the FHO Racing BMW team, easing Kyle Ryde back into fourth. The Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha rider had a spell at the top earlier in the session, but led the home contenders as Leon Haslam completed the top five.
Danny Buchan had been another rider to feature at the top of the times earlier in the session and he finished in sixth place for SYNETIQ BMW.
The Honda Racing UK teammates Takumi Takahashi and Ryo Mizuno had a strong session with the pair split for seventh and ninth places by Andrew Irwin on the second SYNETIQ BMW.
Josh Brookes was next for the MCE Ducati team, pushing Title Fighter Tommy Bridewell outside of the top ten by 0.124s. Lee Jackson was 15th fastest on the lone Cheshire Mouldings FS-3 Kawasaki with Jason O'Halloran returning to action in 18th place for McAMS Yamaha.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park GP, SUPERPICKS Free Practice 1:
- Glenn Irwin (Honda Racing UK) 1m30.611s
- Bradley Ray (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.160s
- Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) +0.557s
- Kyle Ryde (Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha) +0.774s
- Leon Haslam (VisionTrack Kawasaki) +1.076s
- Danny Buchan (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.116s
- Takumi Takahashi (Honda Racing UK) +1.276s
- Andrew Irwin (SYNETIQ BMW) +1.405s
- Ryo Mizuno (Honda Racing UK) +1.531s
- Josh Brookes (MCE Ducati) +1.765s
Click here for full result.
Tickets for the the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park are available upon arrival at the venue all weekend, with free entry for children under-13. For more information, click here.