O’Show swings on the opening day of BSB 2022 at Silverstone

2022 British Superbike Championship
First round – Silverstone

Jason O’Halloran kicked off day one of the 2022 championship in style by setting the fastest Bennetts British Superbike lap of Silverstone National, topping the SUPERPICKS free practice session timesheets to edge out his title rivals in preparation for tomorrow’s season-opening race.

O’Halloran was one of five drivers to set a pace below the existing circuit’s lap record during today’s action, with the 24 lead drivers separated by just 0.954 and just 0.040s separating the Yamaha rival’s Australian Kyle Ryde topped the timesheets. .

As Yamaha locked down the top two positions, Lee Jackson moved up the leaderboard in the final five minutes to take third place for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki, separating Rich Energy OMG Racing Yamaha teammates.

Bradley Ray led the afternoon session through to the final stages, but he was fourth fastest at the end of day one, just ahead of Christian Iddon in fifth on the Buildbase Suzuki.

Rory Skinner was sixth fastest as the young Scotsman ensured both FS-3 Racing Kawasaki riders made it into the top 12, and Ryan Vickers finished the session well as his penultimate lap this afternoon propelled him to seventh place.

Oxford Products Racing Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell was Ducati’s eighth fastest and main competitor, edging out Danny Buchan on the BMW SYNETIQ by just 0.002 seconds.

Andrew Irwin was in tenth place, just ahead of Josh Brookes and Dan Linfoot who completed the top 12 riders who will progress straight into tomorrow’s Q2 for pole position.

Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes, back in World Superbike racing, will race tomorrow’s Q1 SUPERPICKS session, finishing the opening day 14th and 18th respectively.

This BSB round is also used as a bit of a shakedown by many TT riders as they prepare for TT week and the NorthWest 200. Peter Hickman is the most consistent road racing star in the BSB ranks and admits that this particular layout of Silverstone is its least popular track of the season. Hickman was 19th on Friday while fellow TT rider Dean Harrison was 24th while the Rich Energy OMG Yamaha road racing duo of James Hillier and David Johnson were 28th and 30th respectively. Friday was Johnson’s first time on the bike after flying to the UK from South Australia earlier this week.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Silverstone – Friday Free Practice