Silverstone BSB: O’Halloran opens 2022 on top in FP1

McAMS Yamaha’s sole representative at Silverstone opened the 2022 BSB proceedings at the top of the times thanks to a 53.358 from Jason O’Halloran.

The Australian was hotly pursued by Synetiq BMW’s Danny Buchan and OMG Yamaha’s Bradley Ray, as just 0.135s split the leading trio after the first 40 minutes of action.

The long awaited season opener kicked off on Friday afternoon with Rich Energy OMG’s Kyle Ryde heading the initial times. Powerslide’s Bjorn Estement falling at Becketts before a technical issue at Copse had Liam Delves at the side of the track on the Rapid Kawasaki.

The Yamaha rider’s ’53.641 lap sat just 0.005s clear of Danny Buchan’s BMW as the opening ten minutes counted down. Rory Skinner claiming third on the FS-3 Ninja with Christian Iddon and Ray rounding out the top five.

FHO’s Peter Hickman began his 2022 campaign from sixth, three-tenths adrift of the opening target with the second FS-3 Kawasaki of Lee Jackson and O’Halloran’s R1 in hot pursuit. PBM Ducati’s Tom Sykes made his return to the British championship by heading teammate Josh Brookes in the top ten.

Iddon took charge on the Buildbase Suzuki after nine laps of the short national circuit, ’53.511 now the target time, with Jackson and Hickman improving inside the top five.

Tommy Bridewell arrived at the halfway stage on the Oxford Products Ducati to demote Hicky back one position, Ray returning the favour moments later on the OMG Yamaha.

Leon Haslam’s first session back in the series after his 2018 success found the VisionTrack Kawasaki running 25th, narrowly behind OMG wildcard James Hiller with Sykes down in 13th as the second half counted down.

Less than a tenth covered the top four as the final 15 minutes unfolded, three-tenths the top