Bradley Ray moved back ahead of his Bennetts British Superbike Championship rivals after the opening Bennetts British Superbike Championship Free Practice sessions at Brands Hatch with 0.247s separating the Raceways Yamaha rider and Knockhill race winner Rory Skinner.

Ray moved back ahead as he fought back on defending champion Kyle Ryde, with Skinner separating the pair as the OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha rider ended his session with a crash at Stirlings, but will be ready to bounce back tomorrow.

Leon Haslam ended the day fourth fastest for the Moto Rapido Ducati Racing team; a small crash at Druids midway through the session wouldn’t halt his momentum as he bids for a podium return, edging out the returning Scott Redding on the Hager PBM Ducati.

Christian Iddon was sixth fastest as the AJN Steelstock Kawasaki rider was nudged to sixth in the closing moments ahead of McAMS Racing Yamaha’s Danny Kent and Honda Racing UK’s Andrew Irwin.

Lee Jackson and Charlie Nesbitt completed the top ten, with just Tommy Bridewell just 0.001s adrift in 11th position with Max Cook the final rider inside the leading 12 who progress directly into tomorrow’s Bandero Café Shoot Out Qualifying 2 session.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, combined Free Practice times:

1. Bradley Ray (Raceways Yamaha) +1m:25.096s
2. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Ducati) +0.247s
3. Kyle Ryde (OMG Nitrous Competitions Racing Yamaha) +0.288s
4. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Ducati Racing) +0.347s
5. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Ducati) +0.373s
6. Christian Iddon (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +0.462s
7. Danny Kent (McAMS Racing Yamaha) + 0.569s
8. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) +0.593s
9. Lee Jackson (DAO Racing Honda) +0.651s
10. Charlie Nesbitt (MasterMac Honda) +0.695s
11. Tommy Bridewell (Honda Racing UK) +0.696s
12. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock Kawasaki) +0.744s

For the full combined times please click here