Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin snatched Motorpoint British Supersport pole position with his final lap in a dramatic qualifying session, that eventually got underway after a two hour rain delay.

Moto-Breaker’s James Rose provisionally took pole position on his return to racing but was pushed back down the order as regular wet weather front-runners Irwin and Appleyard Macadam’s Jake Dixon began to climb up the time sheets.

Tyco Suzuki’s Taylor Mackenzie crashed out when on course for pole position, before the red flag was brought out with seven minutes remaining after Jamie Lodge had a blow up down the back straight.

The green flag came out after a half hour clean up and the track had dried considerably compared to before the session was stopped. Rose was the first across the line and jumped to the top once again, before Irwin then reclaimed pole. Dixon was the last across the line and after posting purple sectors across the board, the Dover lad then stole away provisional pole.

The chequered flag was out and from nowhere Mar-Train Yamaha’s Alistair Seeley hit the top, with Irwin and Dixon both on fast laps. Northern Irishman Irwin duly took pole position but was waiting for Dixon to come through. The talented teenager had to settle for second, just 0.014 adrift of pole.

EVO Champion Alex Olsen will front the second row of the grid ahead of fellow EVO rider James Rose. Mackenzie managed to visit the med centre and get back out on track to salvage sixth on the grid.

Championship contender Graeme Gowland will start the sprint race from seventh on the grid, ahead of Road Race Factory Yamaha’s Jake Gagne. The San Diego resident won the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2011 and if it wasn’t for a crash on his last lap, he could have been on the front row despite this being his first ever visit to Silverstone. Fellow Yank James Rispoli rounds out the third row in ninth.

Championship leader Billy McConnell salvaged tenth on the grid after completing just nine laps due to suspension issues.

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