Torrential rain has put a stop to the MCE British Superbike qualifying session this afternoon. The grid for tomorrow's first BSB race will now be based on the combined times from the three free practice sessions, meaning Samsung Honda's Alex Lowes will start on pole for the first time this year.

The rain started to come down during the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 group B qualifying laps, and that was cut short by fifteen minutes as weather conditions worsened. Then there were a few track inspections, but because the rain kept falling conditions became more and more dangerous, and safety was a priority.

It was not just the British Superbike qualifying that was affected, the Triumph Triple Challenge also became a casualty to the rain. There were more inspections but the rain did not ease off so the Eastern Airways British Sidecar Championship races, and the Pirelli National Superstock 1000 last chance qualification race were also cancelled.

Series and Race Director of the MCE British Superbike Championship, Stuart Higgs inspected the track on numerous occasions, but this afternoon deemed the track too unsafe for further racing to go ahead.

"The British Superbike grid for tomorrow will be based on the combined practice results, which I think will be quite interesting with Alex Lowes and P.J Jacobsen up on top.

"But there is good news, the forecast for tomorrow will be ok, and I think it will be a great day of racing. I am just sorry about the delay."

MCE British Superbike combined free practice times

1 22 Alex LOWES GBR 1:21.626 12 1:16.412 15 1:17.329 3

2 99 PJ JACOBSEN USA 1:24.730 23 1:16.706 26 0 0.294 0.294

3 67 Shane BYRNE GBR 1:22.793 13 1:16.790 21 1:17.734 4 0.378 0.084

4 2 Josh BROOKES AUS 1:22.716 23 1:17.014 27 1:18.369 3 0.602 0.224

5 96 Jakub SMRZ CZE 1:22.632 24 1:17.477 26 1:22.276 3 1.065 0.463

6 11 Michael RUTTER GBR 1:24.091 15 1:17.479 29 1:23.849 4 1.067 0.002

7 21 Josh WATERS AUS 1:23.769 21 1:17.527 27 4 1.115 0.048

8 9 Chris WALKER GBR 0 1:17.555 20 1:21.519 5 1.143 0.028

9 10 Jon KIRKHAM GBR 0 1:17.709 22 1:23.385 3 1.297 0.154

10 27 James WESTMORELAND GBR 1:23.197 11 1:17.776 22 1:22.390 7 1.364 0.067

11 68 Karl HARRIS GBR 1:27.290 8 1:17.855 20 1 1.443 0.079

12 303 Keith FARMER GBR 1:22.311 17 1:18.092 17 1:21.063 7 1.680 0.237

13 60 Peter HICKMAN GBR 1:23.524 21 1:18.182 21 1:18.645 4 1.770 0.090

14 40 Martin JESSOPP GBR 1:26.860 18 1:18.282 21 1:21.758 3 1.870 0.100

15 83 Danny BUCHAN GBR 1:24.627 22 1:18.308 28 1:20.488 3 1.896 0.026

16 23 Ryuichi KIYONARI JPN 1:24.445 26 1:18.337 15 1:25.438 3 1.925 0.029

17 77 James ELLISON GBR 1:23.619 18 1:18.498 27 1:24.507 3 2.086 0.161

18 46 Tommy BRIDEWELL GBR 1:24.854 14 1:18.562 16 1:22.922 3 2.150 0.064

19 51 Luke QUIGLEY GBR 1:26.189 19 1:19.003 24 1:31.306 5 2.591 0.441

20 43 Howie MAINWARING GBR 1:25.855 17 1:19.184 19 1:21.314 3 2.772 0.181

21 127 Robbin HARMS DEN 1:28.705 23 1:19.211 26 1:28.426 7 2.799 0.027

22 15 Matteo BAIOCCO ITA 1:26.670 20 1:19.398 18 1:27.261 11 2.986 0.187

23 20 Jenny TINMOUTH GBR 1:28.088 18 1:19.786 18 1:28.313 11 3.374 0.388

24 64 Aaron ZANOTTI GBR 1:29.144 12 1:21.598 19 1:30.376 10 5.186 1.812

25 39 Lee COSTELLO GBR 1:26.338 18 2 1:26.013 6 9.601 4.415