Haslam on BSB pole

Leon Haslam has taken pole position at the Snetterton round of the British Superbike championship.

The Airwaves Ducati rider headed off the challenge from the dominant HM Plant Honda duo of Michael Rutter and Ryuichi Kiyonari to take the fastest qualifying lap, beating the lap record by more than half a second in the process.

Kiyonari managed to hang on to second place on the grid despite a big fall, with Rutter taking third and Michael Laverty finishing the front row of the grid.

James Haydon took the fifth fastest time on the Rizla Suzui while Steve Plater got his best qualifying result in a while in sixth in his debut for the Hydrex Honda team.

Gregorio Lavilla and John Reynolds finished the second row.

“I am feeling really confident for the races now – the bike is going well and I see no reasons why I cannot win here,” said Haslam. “We have a really good set-up for the bike, and everything is in place. Now it is down to me to provide the results.”

Superbike qualifying positions:

Haslam

Kiyonari

Rutter

Laverty, M

Haydon

Plater

Lavilla

Reynolds

Thomas

Harris

Hill

Mason

Smart

Wilson

Buckingham

Beaumont

Clarke

Palmer

Hobbs

Burns

Nutt

Brogan

Jackson

Wren

Laverty, J

Ellison

Quigley

Medd

Norris

Ashley

Pensavalle