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Brands BSB: Ray back in charge as he powers to pole

Qualifying three

Bradley Ray 44.997
Shane Byrne – 45.094
James Ellison – 45.145

Buildbase Suzuki’s Bradley Ray saved his best until last with a stunning sub 45 second lap to take pole for tomorrow’s first Bennetts British Superbike race.

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The double Donington Park winner was the only rider able to dip into the 44sec bracket with a stunning lap of the Indy circuit.

Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne, who had been dominant in all the previous sessions today, could only manage the second quickest time.

Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s James Ellison will round out the front row after he set a best time of 45.145.

Ray scorched to his best lap moments after McAMS Yamaha’s Tarran Mackenzie had a massive tank slapper coming over the line, but managed to save it despite his injured wrist.

As the seconds ticked by, Leon Haslam was still trying to get a fast one in, but it wasn’t to be, as he couldn’t manage to climb any higher than fifth, and he’ll start behind Michael Laverty who seems to be feeling much happier with his Tyco BMW.

Movuno.com Halsall Racing’s Tommy Bridewell ended the session sixth, ahead of Jake Dixon aboard the RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki.

Q2 crasher Jason O’Halloran made it out with four minutes to go, and managed to get himself up to eighth, ahead of Mackenzie.

Qualifying two

Shane Byrne – 45.102
Leon Haslam – 45.124
Bradley Ray 45.241

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Leon Haslam stuck in a 45.124 on his third lap to go top, but was quickly deposed by Byrne who came back with 45.102sec lap.

Iddon, who had been loitering outside the top nine, forced his way in with four minutes to go, but was unable to hold it as times tumbled.

As Byrne, Haslam, Ray, Ellison, Laverty and Bridewell spent the latter part of the session watching from the pits, the rest jostled for the final places in the top nine

Jason O’Halloran moved into sixth position, and then seconds later crashed out at Druids but was able to get his Fireblade back to his box to the team, who were seen battling to get it ready to go for Q3.

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The big shock of the session was the elimination of Byrne’s team-mate Glenn Irwin, who was unable to climb any higher than 12th.

Eliminated

Iddon
Cooper
Irwin
Mossey
Hickman
Smrz
Taylor Mackenzie
Buchan
Ryde

Qualifying one

Shane Byrne – 45.310
Glenn Irwin – 45.457
Bradley Ray – 45.461

Shane Byrne continued his dominant form as he set the best time in the first session, ahead of team-mate Glenn Irwin and double Donington winner, Bradley Ray.

Five minutes into the session, Byrne was spotted shaking his head and gesticulating towards CF Motorsport’s Kyle Ryde, although it wasn’t clear what had happened to spark the reaction.

The defending champ finally got himself a quick one in a few minutes later to take his place at the top of the timesheets for the first time in the session, before he joined most of the pack in the pits, leaving just a couple of riders left circulating.

McAMS Yamaha’s Josh Brookes continued to struggle, and despite coming out for the final five minutes and running a number of laps with a clear track ahead, he was unable to move any further up the order than 20th.

This meant last year’s runner-up was unable to go forward to Q2, and he joined IMG Racing’s Gino Rea among the riders in the drop zone.

Eliminated

Rea
Brookes
Law
Barrier
Winfield
Phillips

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