Glenn Irwin 17th in Friday BSB practice at Thruxton as Hampshire track poses 'unique challenges' for Ducati

Irwin, who trails reigning champion Tommy Bridewell by 19 points ahead of round seven, was 15th in FP1 before slipping to 17th on the combined times overall on the Hager PBM Ducati.

The Carrickfergus man was 1.149s adrift of Kent’s table-topping time of 1m 15.156s at the Hampshire track, which is the fastest circuit on the BSB calendar.

OMG Yamaha’s Ryan Vickers – quickest in FP1 – dropped to 15th overall after the second free practice session.

Kent led Honda Racing UK’s Bridewell by 0.139s after day one, with Kyle Ryde (OMG Yamaha) in third ahead of Christian Iddon (Oxford Products Ducati), Peter Hickman (FHO Racing BMW) and Lee Jackson (MasterMac Honda).

The first six on the time sheets were separated by only half-a-second, with Ulsterman Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing UK) in seventh only a few hundredths of a second behind as he occupied seventh on the leaderboard.

His older brother and Ducati rider Irwin will be aiming to close the deficit in final practice and qualifying on Saturday, although the 34-year-old admitted that Thruxton usually presented some ‘unique challenges’ on the Italian Panigale machine.

“We have been making good progress with the development work so we will continue that this weekend, but Thruxton always gives us some unique challenges on the Ducati and with the tyre option also,” said Irwin, who has chalked up six victories this season.

“The plan is to have a solid weekend and rack up as many points as possible.

“I’m not sure what sort of results we can achieve but I’ll be fighting all the way.

“The team is working hard to give me a great bike and this is the final hurdle before we start the last four rounds at tracks which work well for us.”

The first BSB race on Saturday takes place at 16:30 BST with Sunday’s two races at 13:15 BST and 16:15 BST.

In the British Supersport class, Dubliner Jack Kennedy was second fastest after free practice on the Honda Racing UK machine behind Luke Stapleford (Macadam Racing Triumph), with Ulsterman Alastair Seeley third quickest on the Binch Racing Yamaha.

Co Tyrone’s Cameron Dawson impressed in fifth on the Gearlink Kawasaki with Eugene McManus from Randalstown in eighth on the ROKiT Haslam Racing Ducati.

Fermanagh’s Lee Johnston, on the comeback trail after injury, was 17th on the Ashcourt Racing Triumph, one place behind Eunan McGlinchey (R&R Racing Kawasaki).

High-flying Scott Swann was fastest in the National Superstock 1000 class on his Swann Racing Honda by 0.26s from Luke Mossey (Milenco by Padgett’s Honda), with championship leader Davey Todd fifth on the Cheshire Mouldings BMW ahead of Eglinton’s David Allingham (SMS/Nicholls Oil Racing BMW).