Josh Brookes came close to matching the Snetterton lap record as he claimed his second pole start in as many races ahead of Sunday’s seventh round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at the Norfolk circuit.

The HM Plant Honda rider who heads the title chase by four points from Tommy Hill ran almost half a second faster than the Worx Crescent Suzuki rider in a hectic finale to the Swan Combi Roll for Pole.

Brookes, who had set the pace in the first two elements of grid deciding session, put in a best lap of 1m 04.803secs but Hill who had suffered electronic problems to his bike throughout thanked his team for rectifying them when it mattered most as he secured the all important front row start, albeit in the third slot.

Michael Rutter, the Knockhill race winner, separated them aboard his RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati while former two times British Champion, and twice a Snetterton double race winner, Ryuichi Kiyonari ran fourth fastest.

James Ellison, underlining his returning to full fitness after breaking his thigh in practice for the second round at Thruxton back in April, headed the second row on the Swan Honda with a lap in 1m 05.337secs to be ahead of Relentless Suzuki riders Michael Laverty and Alastair Seeley and Gary Mason aboard the MSS Colchester Kawasaki.

Dan Linfoot, riding the Motorpoint Yamaha, and Buildbase Kawasaki’s John Laverty completed the top ten qualifiers while Steve Brogan, riding the Jentin Yamaha, was the fastest of the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class riders, starting from the fifth row of the grid.

NOTE TO EDITORS - FIRST RACE OF THE WEEKEND, HELD OVER FROM KNOCKHILL STARTS AT 15.15 SATURDAY AFTERNOON - STARTING GRID FOR THAT WAS DECIDED AHEAD OF THE POSTPONEMENT OF THE SCOTTISH ROUND DUE TO ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS.


For the record

Superbike - top ten qualifying times for Sunday's opening race
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) 1m:04.803s
Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +0.333s
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) +0.473s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.524s
James Ellison (Swan Honda) +0.534s
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.574s
Alastair Seeley (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.676s
Gary Mason (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +0.708s
Dan Linfoot (Motorpoint Yamaha) +0.744s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +0.833s

Superbike lap record:
Ryuichi Kiyonari (Honda) 1m 04.688s, 108.63mph (2006)

Superbikes on track
Sunday 18 July
09.15-09.30 warm up practice
12.30 Race two - 22 laps
16.30 Race three - 22 laps

Superbikes on television
Sunday 18 July
12.25-13.45 and 15.45-18.00 live raceday
22.15-23.45 highlights
(full tv listings www.britishsuperbike.com)