Rea takes BSB pole

Johnathan Rea has taken a surprise pole position at the Mondello Park round of the British Superbike championship.

The young Northern Irish rider was sitting high in the times throughout the weekend and dominated the final qualifying session, holding the fastest time for mos of the hour.

He was knocked off the top spot by Kawasaki rider Glen Richards with 10 minutes to go but used his closing lap to set the fasetst time of the weekend and take pole position, forcing Richards to settle for second.

Leon Haslam took third place for Airwaves Ducati with Honda rider Riyuichi Kiyonari taking the final place on the front row.

Michael Rutter had to rely on his time from the first session to take fifth place on the grid followed by Michael Lavery, Gregorio Lavilla, and Gary Mason.

The Rizla Suzuki’s had a bad start to the round with Scott Smart qualifying in 12th and John Reynolds’ stand in James Haydon in 15th.

Official qualifying positions:

1. Rea

2. Richards

3. Haslam

4. Kiyonari

5. Rutter

6. M Laverty

7. Lavilla

8. Mason

9. Harris

10. Thomas

11. Emmett

12. Smart

13. Hill

14. Clarke

15. Haydon

16. Kirkham

17. Plater

18. McGuinness

19. Martin

20. McWillaims

21. J. Laverty

22. Nutt

23. Wilson

24. Buckingham

25. Palmer

26. Beaumont

27. Pensavalle

28. Brogan

29. Ashley

30. Crockford

31. Medd

32. Wren