Smiths Triumph’s Billy McConnell bagged the Motorpoint British Supersport pole position, after a competitive qualifying session where he was in a constant battle for the number one spot on the grid with his team-mate, Graeme Gowland.

The Australian lad set a 1’50.948, smashing the lap record by nearly half a second, but very nearly missed out on pole as Gowland, on more than one occasion edged his way to the top of the timesheets. But the rider could not scrape into the 1’50 bracket, and had to settle for a 1’51.268. The Smiths pairing share the front row with MarTrain’s Alastair Seeley.

The Carrickfergus racer left it till there was only two minutes of track time left before he made his mark on the front row, and he was unable to out-pace his own lap record at the circuit after a 1’51.779. Row two will be headed by Techcare/Profile’s Luke Mossey, who will line up alongside Acumen’s Luke Jones and Profile Racing’s Luke Stapleford.

McConnell was on fire during the opening half of the qualifying outing and a super quick 1’51.343 placed his Smith backed Triumph firmly on the provisional front row of the grid, after 20 minutes. Stapleford was in second but was edged out by Gowland for second, right on the ten minute mark.

But with only six minutes of track time available Gowland pipped his team-mate McConnell to the post with a 1’51.343, going two tenths quicker than the lap record set by Alastair Seeley. But then the Hexham rider set the exactly the same time as his Australian colleague. McConnell left it till his eighth lap to pull away from Gowland – fourth tenths to be exact to go back to the top of the timesheets, and pulverising the lap record in the process.

PacedayZ Trackdays Callan Cooper fell at Agostini but was declared OK at the track side. Glenn Irwin was  assessed after a tumble out on track, but was uninjured and finished on the third row, with Mackenzie and Dixon. Futuremoto’s Sam Coventry cashed at Oggies, and is currently being assessed at the medical centre.

Click here for times