Brands Hatch British Superbikes: HM Plant Honda's Ryuichi Kiyonari on the pace

HM Plant Honda’s Ryuichi Kiyonari snatched the fastest time from Airwaves Ducati’s Leon Haslam in the dying seconds in the first British Superbikes free practice at Brands Hatch.

The Japanese rider was the first to dip under to 50 second and then the 49 second marks and finished the session with a best time of 48.294secs.

The session had started wet but with the track drying all the time initial times of 56 seconds soon began to tumble with Ryuichi Kiyonari setting the first real time of 51.047 after seven minutes.

Leon Haslam and HM Plant Honda’s Jonathan Rea upped the ante with two minutes to go as they set exactly identical times of 49.518. Leon Haslam then improved on his next lap with a 49.124 before finishing this practice session in second place on a 48.881.

Rizla Suzuki’s Chris Walker had an encouraging morning as he was third fastest with a 48.954 as he jumped up the timesheets on his last lap.

MSS Discovery Kawasaki’s Michael Rutter also had a good session as he went second after just nine minutes with a 52.659. And he topped the timesheets after 18 minutes with a 51.736. Rutter finished the session in fifth place on 49.767.

British Superbike free practice one results:

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN HM Plant Honda 48.294
2. Leon Haslam GBR Airwaves Ducati 48.881
3. Chris Walker GBR Rizla Suzuki 48.954
4. Jonathan Rea IRL HM Plant Honda 48.986
5. Michael Rutter GBR MSS Discovery Kawasaki 49.767
6. Tom Sykes GBR Stobart Honda 49.793
7. Gregorio Lavilla ESP Airwaves Ducati 50.151
8. James Haydon GBR Hawk Kawasaki 50.161
9. Shane Byrne GBR Stobart Honda 50.414
10. Kenny Gilbertson GBR Astro Kawasaki 50.514
11. Cal Crutchlow GBR Rizla Suzuki 50.674
12. Simon Andrews GBR Jentin Yamaha 50.901
13. Aaron Zanotti GBR Hydrex Honda 51.100
14. Tommy Hill GBR Virgin Yamaha 51.268
15. Guy Martin GBR Phase One Yamaha 51.268
16. Ian Hutchinson GBR Bike Animal Honda 51.665
17. John Ingram GBR SMT Yamaha 52.355
18. Tristan Palmer GBR THR Honda 53.867
19. Tom Tunstall GBR Honda 52.895
20. Sean Emmett GBR Samsung Suzuki 53.413
21. Steve Plater GBR AIM Yamaha 53.464
22. Paul Barron IRL PBM Yamaha 53.693
23. David Johnson AUS Branson Honda 53.926
24. Chris Martin GBR Red Viper Honda 54.068
25. Neil Faulkner GBR Team Emco Yamaha 54.425
26. Tommy Bridewell GBR NB Suzuki 54.528
27. James Buckingham GBR Honda 54.613
28. Martin Jessopp GBR Honda 54.845
29. Karl Harris GBR Hydrex Honda 56.157
30. Malcolm Ashley GBR Kawasaki 1:00.851
31. Dean Thomas AUS Samsung Suzuki 1:01.715