Smiths Triumph's Billy McConnell snatched a dramatic Motorpoint British Supersport pole position in changeable conditions this morning at Knockhill, before crashing out with seconds remaining in the session.
Mar-Train Yamaha's Stuart Easton was the early pace setter but a crash at the Scotsman eight minutes in to the session was the local hero's downfall. The damage to his bike was too severe to be fixed and with the dry line improving throughout the session, the championship contender slipped down the order, consequently being forced to start this afternoon's first race from the fifth row.
Adelaide man, McConnell, took full advantage of the improving conditions, posting a lap time of 50.185 in the last five minutes of the session. He bettered Seton Yamaha's Graeme Gowland by just 0.039 of a second, the Northumberland lad's best qualifying result of the year. Reigning champion, Glen Richards, will round out the front row of the grid.
Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson heads the second row ahead of the Samsung Honda's Jason O'Halloran, who recovered from a crash yesterday to secure a second row grid slot. Championship leader, Alastair Seeley, couldn't take full advantage of his title rival's misfortune, as he will start from the back on the second row.
Richard Cooper shot up the order in the closing stages to take seventh, with Jake Dixon and Luke Stapleford bumped back a place as a result. Profile Triumph's Luke Mossey will line up tenth on the grid ahead of Mar-Train Yamaha's Glenn Irwin and TAG Triumph's Scott Smart, with the first four rows of the grid being covered by just 0.855 of a second.