Skinner, who was already quic🌳kest during session #2, kept hold of his place atop the leaderboard thanks to a time of 53.730s. 

The Kawasaki rider made a good start t🐭o pre-season testing at Snetterton last month - part of a six-rider group that went underneath the existing lap record - before continuing to demonstrate serious potential ahead of his second season in BSB. 

• Official: Tarran Mackenzie to make WorldSB🐭K debut at Assen 
• Br♕adley Ray shows impressive pace on Yamaha debut, a si🧸gn of things to come? 
• Rea unleashes devastating pac🍒e to top final pre-season WorldSBK test at Aragon

"We have had a mega day and to be straight back on the pace was good," said Skinner. "Conditions have been a bit varied today, there was rain in the afternoon and t𝓰he wind has also been high all day, so that has made pushing on a bit difficult, but we were able to string together some longer runs.

"Towards the end we put together a couple of fast laps and I am really happy with howཧ the day went and the team have been really gre♎at. 

"FS-3 Racing have given me a great bike for ওthe test and I am loo𒉰king forward to tomorrow."

Also making a great start was Bradley Ray aboard his Rich Energy OMG Racing Yama🌳ha machine.&nbs🔯p;

Ray, who will be riding an R1 for the first time in his British Superbike career this season, was less th𒐪an a tenth off Skinnerܫ. 

But while the pace was frantic - top 22 riders were separated by les⛦s than a second - the big news from the final test before next week’s season-opener, again at Silverstone, was the accident involving Mackenzie. 

The reigning champion already suffered a fractured right tibia and dislocated right shoulder during a fall at Cartagena in January, but following a nasty highside as he came onto the old start-finish straight, the McAMS Yamaha rider has a suspected left ankle f✃racture. 

Will Mackenzie miss round one? 

Although it remains to be seen what the extent of his injury isও, an already less than 100% fit Mackenzie is now at risk of missing round one. 

Worryingly for Mackenzie, this month’s BSB round might not be the only event he c🐟ould miss, as the Scottish rider is also scheduled to make his WorldSBK debut in the form of a wildcard at round two in Assen (April 22-24).

Mackenzie has previously shown a remarkable abi💞lity🍬 to fight through injuries, which suggests anything is possible.

Medical update: Following assessment at University Hospital Coventry, Tarran Mackenzie has been diagnosed with a fracture to the left ankle. He will see a specialist in Nottingham tomorrow (Friday) for further consultation.