Rain and a crash fail to hold back Brookes

Wet conditions and a low speed crash have failed to deter MCE British Superbike championship leader Josh Brooks from topping the time sheets after the opening day of action at the series’ Dutch round.

Lapping the famous Assen circuit almost three quarters of a second faster than Luke Mossey in the afternoon’s rain-interrupted session, even a small tip off after losing attention under a red flag and accelerating off a white line in free practice one wasn’t enough to slow him down.

Last year’s pole man Christian Iddon was third, ahead of a surprise return to the front of the pack from Jakub Smrz, making his first appearance as replacement for Broc Parkes on the Milwaukee Yamaha.

Jack Kennedy was fifth, ahead of a gaggle of Showdown riders in the form of Shane Byrne, Michael Laverty and James Ellison.