Rutter edges Donington Superpole

It is an all-Ducati front row for Sunday’s third round of the MCN British Superbike championship at Donington Park – but the rider on pole is not Steve Hislop, it’s Michael Rutter on the Renegade Ducati.

Superpole was declared wet, meaning each rider got 12 laps in the 40-minute session. The session started on a damp, but rapidly drying surface, and Rutter’s best lap was a 1:08.66, well inside James Haydon’s lap record of 1:09.18 set in 2000.

Rutter said: ” I stuck a hard rear race tyre early on and reeled off several laps to get into a rhythm. Then I came in for the qualifier just as the track had dried out enough to really go for it. I don’t care what the conditions are like tomorrow – dry or wet. I’m just looking forward to the race. ”

Hislop had to be content with second fastest time on the MonsterMob Ducati after nearly crashing at Craner Curves in his first lap on a qualifying tyre. He recovered to record a 1:08.78 on the next lap but it was 0.116s shy of edging out Rutter.

Rutter’s team-mate Shane Byrne and IFC Dcuati rider Paul Brown completed the front row.

Sean Emmett was fifth fastest and defending champion John Reynolds, was sixth on the Rizla Suzuki GSX-R1000, missing out on a front row start by 0.13s.

Superpole results:

1) M Rutter 2) S Hislop 3) S Byrne 4) P Brown 5) S Emmett 6) J Reynolds 7) K Harris 8) S Crafar 9) S Plater 10) D Richards 11) D Thomas 12) D Ellison 13) G Mason 14) M Burr 15) S Norval 16) P Giles