Qualifying three
Jake Dixon – 1’33.959
Shane Byrne – 1’34.083
Josh Brookes – 1’34.109
RAF Reserves Kawasaki’s Jake Dixon was the only rider who lapped inside the 1’33 barrier in the MCE British Superbike qualifying session at Oulton Park, and will start race one from pole position.
The youngster has just signed a contract extension with his Lee Hardy team and appeared relaxed and happy in Q3. Dixon pulled the pin in the final qualifying outing and put down a 1’33.959, and was only 0.026 seconds off the outright lap record.
Current championship leader, Be Wiser Ducati’s Shane Byrne was a tenth slower than his fellow countryman and still managed a time that was under lap record pace, with a 1’34.083.
Anvil Hire TAG Yamaha’s Josh Brookes completes the front row and was another racer who lapped a sub 1’35 time. The Australian went quickest in FP2, but also went under his own lap record at the Cheshire track.
Honda Racing’s Dan Linfoot had a stellar session and heads up row two with a strong 1’34.117. He is joined by showdown rider, JG Speedfit Kawasaki’s Leon Haslam. He was a tiny 0.04s from fourth and will start in P5, with Moto Rapido Ducati’s John Hopkins rounding off row two.
Riders Cup challenger, Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon went seventh quickest, followed by title contender, Smiths Racing’s Peter Hickman. The S1000RR Louth lad pinged his bike to the third row and is sandwiched between Iddon and Tommy Bridewell. At the end of the session the top nine were covered by only 0.8 seconds.
Qualifying two
Shane Byrne – 1’34.047
Leon Haslam - 1’34.085
Jake Dixon – 1’34.180
The second qualifying session was red flagged as Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran experienced a big crash at Old Hall, and the protective barriers had to be realigned. The showdown rider was taken to the medical centre for further assessment but he did walk away from the crash.
The Australian has subsequently been declared fit to take part in the double-header tomorrow. But he will have to start from P12 on the grid for race one on Sunday. Meanwhile Hopkins was fourth tenths of a second safe from the drop zone and the McAMS backed Yamaha of James Ellison could not push the American out of the top nine.
Ellison was not the only McAMS bike who failed to make it to Q3, as Michael Laverty only set a time that places him on the the sixth row for the opening race. Joining the R1 boys in the elimination places was Bradley Ray, Glenn Irwin, Martin Jessopp, Luke Mossey and Sylvain Guintoli.
O’Halloran was not the only rider to succumb to Old Hall corner, birthday boy, Lee Jackson also took a tumble in the same place, but he was declared OK at the trackside.
Both the Fireblade and the Smiths BMW rider fell out of contention for a place in the final qualifying outing. There was no Superpole session this afternoon as there was a 40 percent chance of rain.
Eliminated
Ellison
Ray
O’Halloran
Irwin
Jessopp
Mossey
Guintoli
Laverty
Jackson
Qualifying one
Josh Brookes – 1’34.161
Jake Dixon – 1’34.269
Peter Hickman – 1’34.546
Josh Brookes was the fastest rider in the opening qualifying session along with fellow showdown riders, Jake Dixon and Peter Hickman who completed the provisional front row at the Cheshire circuit.
Michael Laverty was dangerously close to not making it into Q2 and just made it in to the second qualifying session by two tenths. Those who were not so lucky included Jakub Smrz, whose last lap dash failed to materialize. He was unable to lap quicker than the McAMS Yamaha bike and will start from 19th in race two.
The Czech Republic rider was joined in the elimination spots by Westmoreland, road racer, Dean Harrison, Winfield and Zanotti. There were no fallers in the first outing.
Eliminated
Smrz
Westmoreland
Harrison
Winfield
Zanotti
