Tommy Hill is in a strong position to tighten his grip on the chase for the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship having powered in his third pole start of the campaign ahead of the fourth round at Cadwell Park.

The Worx Crescent Suzuki rider had been struggling with the set-up of his bike in the earlier free practice sessions at the Lincolnshire circuit but his team had everything right for the grid deciding Swan Combi Roll for Pole and Hill duly delivered the goods, with a best lap of 1m 27.744secs.

"To be honest, we have been struggling from the start of this weekend, trying different forks and messing around trying to get the right setting," reflected Hill, who takes a lead of 51 points into the races.

"We were scratching our heads about it, but then we went back to basics and here we are on pole," added Hill who is now aiming for a repeat of his maiden victory in the series, scored here back in 2005. "Now that would be fantastic for me and the team who have worked so hard on the bike. It is going so well now, and that is a big change from the start of the weekend."

Aussie Josh Brookes, riding the locally prepared HM Plant Honda, had run fastest in the first two elements of the Roll for Pole, but had to settle for second best, and a centre of the front row start, after his lap in 1m 28.099secs. The experienced Michael Rutter, enjoying a rich vein of form, ran third fastest on the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati.

Ryuichi Kiyonari, the former two times winner of the British crown, heads up the second row aboard the second HM Plant Honda, with the Japanese rider determined to chalk up his first victory at this demanding circuit, the only one on the calendar that he has not conquered.

He has Michael Laverty, the winner last time out for Relentless Suzuki at Oulton Park, alongside him with Tommy Bridewell running sixth on the Quay Garage Honda. Flying Scot Stuart Easton, currently second in the title stakes, faces an uphill struggle if he is make inroads into the lead of Hill as he starts his Swan Honda from the third row of the grid.

Easton, who had a grass-tracking excursion off the circuit in the final element of the grid decider, ran with a best time of 1m 28.502secs to be ahead of Chris Walker, riding MSS Colchester Kawasaki and John Laverty on the Buildbase Kawasaki.

Gary Mason, who crashed heavily at Charlies, briefly stopping the session, was tenth overall from Motorpoint Yamaha team-mates Dan Linfoot and Ian Lowry.

South African Hudson Kennaugh, riding the MAR Kawasaki, 17th fastest overall, was the top qualifier in the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO category but with Chris Burns aboard the Splitlath Aprilia and Jentin BMW rider Steve Brogan in close contention.

For the record

Superbike – top ten qualifiers
Tommy Hill (Worx Crescent Suzuki) 1:27.744
Josh Brookes (HM Plant Honda) +0.355s
Michael Rutter (Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati) +0.481s
Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) +0.524s
Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.716s
Tommy Bridewell (Quay Garage Honda) +0.736s
Stuart Easton (Swan Honda) +0.758s
Chris Walker (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) +1.183s
John Laverty (Buildbase Kawasaki) +1.239s

Superbike lap record
Leon Haslam, Ducati, 1m26.654secs, 90.56mph (2007)

Superbikes on track
Sunday 23 May
09.15-09.30 Warm up practice
12.30 Race one 18 laps
16.05 Race two 18 laps

Superbikes on television
Sunday 23 May
British Eurosport 2
12.25-14.00 and 15.05-18.00 Live raceday
21.15-22.45 Highlights
Wednesday 26 May
ITV4
20.45-22.15 Highlights
(Full television schedule www.britishsuperbike.com)

Flashback
Monday 31 August – Round 9
Race one
1 L Camier, Ducati
2 S Easton, Honda
3 J Ellison, Ducati

Race two
1 J Ellison, Ducati
2 S Easton, Honda
3 S Andrews, Kawasaki