Brookes sets early Brands pace from TT star Hickman

Brands Hatch GP BSB - Free Practice Results (1)

Josh Brookes set the early pace in first free practice for round four of the 2019 Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch GP, ahead of Peter Hickman and Scott Redding.

The title contender, who missed the podium in all three races last time out at Donington Park, was straight back to form on the Be Wiser Ducati Panigale V4 R to go top within the final minutes with a 1m 26.439s

With only 0.060s covering the top three around the longer GP configuration, Brookes was just ahead of Smiths BMW’s Peter Hickman, the Isle of Man TT star adapting back to short circuits seamlessly to get right back to the top of the timesheets out of the box.

New BSB leader Redding was third quickest, the ex-MotoGP rider impressing on his Brands Hatch debut, to challenge for the leading positions straight away.

Dan Linfoot was fourth best on the Santander Salt TAG Yamaha ahead of fellow R1 rider Tarran Mackenzie on the factory McAMS machine, the top five the only riders to get into the 1m 26s bracket.

Luke Stapleford led the Suzuki challenge in sixth, ahead of championship contender Tommy Bridewell, top Kawasaki rider Danny Buchan, Jason O’Halloran and Andrew Irwin on the highest-placed Honda.

Elsewhere, Hector Barbera, making his second appearance for Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki, kicked off his Brands Hatch weekend in 21st, just ahead of Claudio Corti.

Meanwhile, Ryan Vickers is back out on track after being forced to miss the Donington Park round through injury.