Qualifying three
Jake Dixon – 1’24.699
Glenn Irwin – 1’24.876
Taz Mackenzie – 1’24.899
Jake Dixon drew first blood ahead of this weekend’s Bennetts British Superbike Championship finale as he powered to pole at Brands Hatch.
But title favourite Leon Haslam didn’t fare quite so well, as the JG Speedfit Kawasaki rider was left languishing down in eighth.
Haslam and Richard Cooper were the first out and had almost two laps under their belts before the rest had banked one,
Taz Mackenzie moved top, closely followed by the RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki of Dixon, who was straight into the 1’24s with a 1’24.901 on his second lap, cutting it further on his third as he posted a 1’24.699.
By now, Mackenzie had joined him in the 1’24s, while the Irwin brothers led by Glenn had placed their Be Wiser Ducatis third and fourth.
Glenn was still charging, however, and moved up to second with a 1’24.876 as Mackenzie split the Irwins in third.
Tommy Bridewell’s Moto Rapido Ducati was fifth quickest ahead of Peter Hickman, with Richard Cooper’s Buildbase Suzuki seventh
Haslam found himself dropped down to eighth position as the flag fell, ahead of the second McAMS Yamaha of Josh Brookes.
Qualifying two
Taz Mackenzie – 1’25.266
Leon Haslam – 1’25.333
Glenn Irwin – 1’25.407
Despite making it through to Q2, Jessopp’s run almost ended early as he crashed his Riders Motorcycles.com BMW on the out lap, and moments later more chaos ensued.
Jason O’Halloran pulled in after what appeared to a mechanical issue, and seconds later Luke Mossey crashed at Graham Hill Bend, quickly followed by championship contender Dixon, who tipped off at the exit to Druids.
The session was halted with just over nine minutes remaining as marshals began to clear oil dropped by O’Halloran’s machine.
As the machines headed back out, Peter Hickman’s Smith’s BMW led a close pack as times started to drop, albeit a good half second away from what they’d been in session one, perhaps down to the remnants of the oil on track.
Tommy Bridewell deposed Hickman at the top on his fifth lap, but Dixon was clearly not troubled by his earlier off as he went top, only to be bumped down moments later by his title rival Haslam.
Glenn Irwin moved into second as Taz Mackenzie shot to the top in the closing seconds, demoting Haslam to second and Irwin third.
Josh Brookes managed to salvage the final Q3 spot as he squeezed his way into ninth on his final lap.
Eliminated
O’Halloran
Ellison
Ray
Mossey
Rea
Buchan
Laverty
Jessopp
Qualifying one
Glenn Irwin – 1’24.911
Jake Dixon – 1’25.209
Richard Cooper – 1’25.420
Richard Cooper was fastest first out as he clocked 1’25.420 on his first quick lap as the riders got themselves established on track.
Jason O’Halloran, the weekend’s sole Honda Racing rider following Dan Linfoot’s withdrawal this morning, was the first casualty as he crashed at Graham Hill Bend just a few minutes in, as Dixon shot to the top as he shaved 0.211secs off Coopers time.
Moments later, Christian Iddon crashed the Tyco BMW at Hawthorns , shortly followed by Mason Law, who lost the rear of his Team WD40 went down at Surtees.
Glenn Irwin moved into the lead with a 1’24.911, holding the spot all the way to the flag as no-one came out to challenge him.
In the final minute, Martin Jessopp – who was sitting in 16th position - was handed a 40 sec penalty for taking a shortcut at turn four.
New arrival Danny Kent was among those who missed out on Q2, as the 2015 Moto3 World Champion could only manage 26th on the Movuno.com Halsall Suzuki.
Eliminated
Elliott
Law
Rogers
Barrier
Harrison
Francis
Winfield
Kent
Zanotti
