HM Plant Honda's Steve Plater has snatched the British Supersport pole position from under the nose of championship rival Billy McConnell on the last lap of this afternoon's qualifying session.
McConnell, on the MAP Raceways Yamaha, set a lap of 1'38.752 with 18 minutes left which stood until Plater, who was following James Westmoreland, stepped up and beat the Aussie's time by just six one-hundredths.
Plater, however, was involved in a controversial incident with Padgett's Honda's Ian Hutchinson after just ten minutes of the session had passed. Hutchinson was just peeling into Druids when Plater went up the inside, which pushed the roads man onto the grass and off his CBR600. Understandably, Hutchinson wasn't happy, kicking dirt in Plater's wake.
Gearlink Kawasaki's Ben Wilson took third sport with Ireland's Marty Nutt, who has experienced a resurgence since former rider Dennis Hobbs got involved with his team, taking the final front row position.
Westmoreland, on the A1 Moto Services Triumph, is at the head of row two, with Hydrex Honda's Tom Grant, Paul Young and Hudson Kennaugh in seventh and eighth.
