Samsung Honda's Michael Laverty has admitted the strategy for his first British Superbike qualifying session with his new team went wrong after he pitted in and then, on his return to the circuit, was greeted with rain and a damp track which got worse and he fell victim to the first cut.

Laverty, who joined Tommy Hill as an opening session victim, will start from 21st on the grid and will have to rely on a fast laptime in the opening leg to secure a better start position for the second race tomorrow afternoon.

“I was playing it careful to begin with and I did some steady laps as the conditions were tricky and I didn’t want to have a crash. I was ninth after the lap and then I came into the pits, but we got it wrong as in the time I had been in the garage I had dropped to 19th. The drizzle then came in and I had no chance of improving the lap. It was a mistake and I am disappointed but I think we just need to now look at getting a good start in the races," said the Irishman.