Donington BSB: Irwin tops damp FP1

Honda’s Glenn Irwin headed an earlier than scheduled BSB FP1 session as wet weather threatened to impact the running at Donington Park.

A 1’30.611 set the Bennetts British Superbike pace as day one got underway at the Derby track, with championship leader Bradley Ray and FHO BMW’s Peter Hickman completing the top three.

Rich Energy OMG Yamaha’s Kyle Ryde took charge as the damp morning action began at Donington Park with a 1’34.296 from BMW’s Danny Buchan and Hickman. Christian Iddon, Tarran Mackenzie and Rory Skinner missing from proceedings following the dramatic visit to Oulton Park with Charlie Nesbitt in on the Buildbase Suzuki and Mar-Train’s Jack Kennedy making up the numbers for the final two rounds.

The British Supersport Champion didn’t get off to the best of starts after a crash at the final corner on his third lap. Buchan taking control on the Synetiq M1000RR after 15 minutes on track before Ryde hit back with a ’33.3.

Crow Performance’s Chrissy Rouse suffered the next fall, with a slide at Craner Curves. MCE Ducati’s Josh Brookes and Honda’s Takumi Takahasi rounding out the top five at the halfway stage before FHO’s Ryan Vickers bettered the pair by two tenths.

Ryo Mizuno was the next to claim fourth as Honda’s charge in the challenging conditions continued. Tom Sykes, Glenn Irwin, Ray, Tommy Bridewell, Lee Jackson and Andrew Irwin yet to set times as the second half got going with Jason O’Halloran running tentatively at the back of the pack and ten seconds off the pace after his painful Oulton experience.

Takahasi rose to lead the way by 0.033s in the final third. Leon Haslam placing the VisionTrack Kawasaki in eighth as Bridewell suffered a major moment on his first hot lap effort with the Oxford Products