O'Halloran heads opening Brands Hatch Indy practice

Click here for full BSB FP1 results from Brands Hatch Indy

Jason O’Halloran has edged Jake Dixon to lead the opening practice session at Brands Hatch Indy for Honda Racing.

The Australian rider punched in a late 50.425s to take top spot by just 0.008s from RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki’s Dixon in damp but drying conditions after overnight rain.

With conditions neither completely wet or dry, a bulk of riders opted to sit out FP1 including defending Bennetts British Superbike champion Shane Byrne but his Be Wiser Ducati teammate Glenn Irwin fronted the squad’s charge by taking third on the times.

Buidlbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper claimed fourth on the times, with teammate and double race winner from Donington Park Bradley Ray opting for just six laps down in 19^th, while fellow Suzuki rider Tommy Bridewell completed the top five.

Honda’s Dan Linfoot has continued his encouraging start to 2018 with sixth on the times after his Donington Park race two podium with PR Lloyd & Jones BMW’s Jakub Smrz in seventh.

Peter Hickman heads up the Smiths Racing BMW efforts in eighth ahead of 2015 BSB champion Josh Brookes (McAMS Yamaha) as JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam who rounded out the top ten.