Qualifying three

Tommy Hill 52.867

Gary Mason 53.562

Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill just fended off the attentions of John Hopkins to bag pole position for tomorrow's British Superbike double-header with both men leaving their best lap-times of the weekend till last as title rival Shane Byrne crashed unhurt in the last session and is on the third row.

Hill's 52.867 was the first time the 53s barrier has been broken today and, despite some fast laps, the American just couldn't find the final two tenths. MSS Colchester Kawasaki's Gary Mason spent the whole session in the top three and is rewarded with a front-row start.

Rapid Ducati's Michael Rutter rounds out the top four with John Kirkham fifth, Josh Brookes, who also crashed his Relentless Suzuki, sixth, Evo rider Glen Richards seventh and James Westmoreland eighth. Byrne and Loris Baz complete the top ten.

Qualifying two

Tommy Hill 53.424

John Hopkins 53.753

Rain falling just after a red flag ensured Mason remained in upper echelon ahead of Hopkins and Byrne, and the moisture also saved the jambon of Loris Baz who crashed just before the action was stopped and his time was good enough to go through.

Rutter took a gamble on a slick rear early in the session and ended mid-pack while Hill managed to haul himself up the order despite the rain and then went fastest. Kirkham was tenth into the final minute but he also saved himself with a quick lap which put Michael Laverty in danger.

Laverty could do nothing however, and was shuffled out, as was Ryuichi Kiyonari and Simon Andrews. Brookes just rescued himself with his last lap to go fifth but Alex Lowes, whose bike caused the red flag, didn't make it back onto the track and didn't make the cut.

ELIMINATED

Michael Laverty

Ryuichi Kiyonari

Simon Andrews

Steve Brogan

Graeme Gowland

Tommy Bridewell

Alex Lowes

Ian Lowry

James Hillier

Jake Zemke

Qualifying one

Gary Mason 53.229

John Hopkins 53.916

Mason bagged top spot in the opening session on a track that looked to be drying out, taking the lead from Byrne who had been duking it out with Hopkins and Westmoreland. Ian Lowry and Simon Andrews both found pace late on to make it through as did Kiyonari, who is struggling again this weekend.

The lap-times were being swapped at the bottom end of the table, with Zemke just rescuing himself with his final circulation which pushed Kirkham onto the edge of the drop and Scott Smart into it.

Thruxton hero Peter Hickman was also eliminated, as was Dan Linfoot who had a crash this morning but wasn't badly injured. Housewives' favourite Chris Walker fell off unhurt at the hairpin.

ELIMINATED

Peter Hickman

Scott Smart

Chris Walker

John Laverty

Martin Jessopp

Patrick Muff

Dan Linfoot

Craig Fitzpatrick

Josh Day

Tom Tunstall

Dennis Hobbs

Mark Miller

Barry Burrell

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