Qualifying three
Josh Brookes 1'25.111
Michael Laverty 1'25.142
John Hopkins 1'25.288
Relentless Suzuki's Josh Brookes has taken his first British Superbike pole position of the year at Brands Hatch this afternoon, setting the quickest ever lap of the Kent circuit and managing to stay ahead of Michael Laverty on the Swan Yamaha who had been fastest in the first two sessions.
Series leader John Hopkins is third quickest with his nearest rival Tommy Hill rounding out the front row. Sorrymate.com Honda's James Ellison has given his team their best qualifying of the year in fifth with veteran Michael Rutter in sixth.
Jon Kirkham put the second Samsung Suzuki in seventh, Graeme Gowland is easily the fastest Evo man in eighth with Martin Jessopp and Alex Lowes rounding out the top ten.
Qualifying two
Michael Laverty 1'25.424
Graeme Gowland 1'25.732
Michael Rutter 1'25.732
Both the HM Plant Honda riders went out in the second session with Shane Byrne crashing unhurt at Westfield and Ryuichi Kiyonari just not having the pace to make it through to the final. Because of the one-bike rule, Byrne didn't progress and will start in 19th.
Gowland one again made waves, posting the second fastest time of the session on his Evo-spec WFR Honda, just ahead Rutter on the Riders Ducati 1198. Tyco Honda's Peter Hickman crashed in the same place at Byrne, prompting a brief track inspection
ELIMINATED
Chris Walker
Tommy Bridewell
Ryuichi Kiyonari
Alex Lowes
Glen Richards
Barry Burrell
Karl Harris
Shane Byrne
Peter Hickman
Qualifying one
Michael Laverty 1'25.326
Shane Byrne 1'25.887
Tommy Hill 1'25.955
Laverty was clearly the fastest man of the top 20 and going inside Gregorio Lavilla's lap record set on the Airwaves Ducati in 2007. Byrne was next in line but more than half a second off the pace with Hill a further tenth further back.
MSS Kawasaki's Gary Mason was just bumped into the relegation zone after swapping back to the 2011-spec Superbike for this weekend. Tyco Honda's Dan Linfoot was also eliminated as was Scott Smart who did't turn a wheel.
ELIMINATED
Gary Mason
Dan Linfoot
Richard Cooper
Patric Muff
Steve Mercer
James Hillier
David Anthony
Aaron Zanotti
Steve Heneghan
Dan Kneen
Scott Smart
