Max Cook set the pace in the opening ZYN British Superbike Championship Free Practice session at Brands Hatch, launching the AJN Steelstock bimota to the top of the times in the closing moments to hold off Kyle Ryde and Scott Redding from the top.

Redding had been leading the way throughout the final stages of the session, but with lap times tumbling in the closing moments, it was Cook who held the advantage at the chequered flag.

Ryde surged into second on his final run on the Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati, to put him 0.009s ahead of Redding with Bradley Ray and Leon Haslam locking out the top five positons.

Ryan Vickers was sixth fastest for Honda Racing UK ahead of another strong performance from Ilya Mikhalchik, who was joined in the pit garage by legendary DJ Carl Cox, whilst Rory Skinner completed the top eight contenders.

Storm Stacey held off a returning Glenn Irwin for ninth place, in a session that was red flagged when Graeme Irwin crashed at Paddock Hill Bend, before it was resumed for the closing 11 minutes.

ZYN British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Free Practice 1:

1. Max Cook (AJN Steelstock bimota) 1m25.256s
2. Kyle Ryde (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.014s
3. Scott Redding (Hager PBM Racing Team) +0.023s
4. Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) +0.246s
5. Leon Haslam (Moto Rapido Racing) +0.258s
6. Ryan Vickers (Honda Racing UK) +0.338s
7. Ilya Mikhalchik (ROKiT BMW Motorrad Superbike Team) +0.430s
8. Rory Skinner (Cheshire Mouldings Yamaha) +0.667s
9. Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Racing Ducati) +0.712s
10. Glenn Irwin (Nitrous Coin Nitrous Competitions Racing) +0.731s

For the full session result please click here