Silverstone 200: Ellison tops the time sheets

There were no surprises in the opening practice session for the Silverstone 200 support race, as Milwaukee Yamaha rider James Ellison, fresh from a Cadwell Park podium, finished almost a second faster than his rivals.

The two-part open class race, which sees a mix of superbike, sport and stock machines, offers valuable track time at the Northamptonshire circuit that will form one of three BSB Showdown tracks in a few weeks time.

BSB racers dominated the grid, with the Lloyds GBmoto pair of Dan Linfoot and Peter Hickman swapping the final two front row spots between them before Linfoot emerged 0.3 ahead when the flag went out.

Ellison’s Yamaha-mounted teammate, Australian Josh Waters, was fourth, ahead of fellow Aussie and first of the superstocks David Johnson, on the Four Anjels Kawasaki he rides in the National Superstock Championship, with fellow stock rider Jonathan Railton rounding out the second row.

Graeme Gowland was first of the 600s, putting his Appleyard Macadam Yamaha in seventh, ahead of Northern Irishman Marshall Neill on the Wilson Craig Honda superbike campaigned at the Isle of Man TT by Cameron Donald.

The Silverstone 200 has an additional qualifying session tomorrow, before two races on Saturday evening and Sunday evening.

Silverstone 200, Hertz British Grand Prix, free practice result:

1. James Ellison (Milwaukee Yamaha) 2m:08.698s
2. Dan Linfoot (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +0.900s
3. Peter Hickman (Lloyds British GBmoto Honda) +1.170s
4. Josh Waters (Milwaukee Yamaha) +2.247s
5. David Johnson (Four Anjels Racing Kawasaki) +2.717s
6. Jonathan Railton (Team WD40 Kawasaki) +3.158s
7. Graeme Gowland (Appleyard Macadam Racing Yamaha) +3.441s
8. Marshall Neill (Wilson Craig Honda) +3.616s
9. Aaron Zanotti (STEL Suzuki) + 3.823
10. James East (Idaq Motorsport Kawasaki) + 3.881