Kyle Ryde fastest in free practice at Thruxton British Superbike round as team-mate Glenn Irwin seeks Pre-Qualifying turnaround
Glenn Irwin will be seeking improvement in Pre-Qualifying at Thruxton later on Friday after only manging 16 laps across free practice at round seven of the British Superbike Championship.
The Nitrous Competitions Racing Ducati rider was ninth fastest in FP1, setting his best lap in 1m 16.023s to end the session 0.936s down on pacesetter and championship leader Kyle Ryde.
Irwin did 11 laps in FP1 but only five in the second free practice session on his V4R machine, ending FP2 in 19th, one place behind brother Graeme, who continues to stand in for the injured Andrew Irwin on the MET fonaCAB Racing Ducati.
The Carrickfergus man has endured a challenging 2026, with the two-time BSB title runner-up hampered by machine problems and injury.
Irwin, who crashed out of the last race at Oulton Park, is ninth in the standings. The 36-year-old has claimed one podium result so far this season at Knockhill in Scotland, finishing third in Race 1.
Former BSB champion Leon Haslam, second behind Ryde in FP1, topped the second session on the Moto Rapido Racing Ducati by only 0.082s from Honda Racing’s Ryan Vickers, lapping in 1m 15.415s.
However, Ryde’s time from FP1 is the quickest so far on Friday with Pre Qualifying to come (15:30 BST).
Ryde was eighth in FP2 ahead of Storm Stacey (Bathams AJN Ducati).
Scott Redding was third fastest in FP2 on the Hager PBM Ducati ahead of Bradley Ray (McAMS Yamaha) at the Hampshire circuit.
Donegal’s Rhys Irwin was 13th on the MasterMac Honda, while team-mate Eugene McManus from Randalstown was 17th ahead of Graeme Irwin.
McManus is back in action for the first time since a crash at Brands Hatch in July.
Richard Kerr from Donegal was 21st quickest in FP2 on the SM Racing Honda head of Josh Brookes (DAO Racing Honda).
In the first free practice session for the National Superstock 1000 class, championship leader David Allingham was 11th on the SMS/Nicholl Oils BMW.
Simon Reid was fourth (Carl Cox BMW by MLav Racing) while Ulster Superbike champion Carl Phillips was sixth fastest on the Bell Bikesport/B&W Racing BMW ahead of Oulton Park winner Scott Swann (Swann Racing by SMR BMW).
Matt Truelove headed FP1 on the TAG Racing Honda.