BSB: Byrne takes top spot in first Superpole session

Shane Byrne took pole position for tomorrow’s opening MCE British Superbike race at Snetterton after a tense debut for the all-new Superpole format.

With the weather finally playing ball, organisers gave the go-ahead for the one-lap shoot-out for the first time this season and it didn’t disappoint.

The two qualifying sessions leading up to Superpole were equally as dramatic with big-named casualties dropping out early on. Quattro Plant Kawasaki’s Luke Mossey, who was quick in both wet and dry conditions, crashed of Q1, eliminating him from further action and leaving him to start tomorrow’s first race from 28^th on the grid. Michael Laverty was also an early faller as he crashed out of the second qualifying session, he’ll start 16^th.

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Broc Parkes, replacing the injured John Hopkins, got Superpole off to a start as he set off for his one flying lap to set the benchmark with a time of 1’48.829, which would leave him an impressive seventh on the grid after all riders had completed their lap.

Second man out Peter Hickman stormed to the top of the timesheets with 1’48.697 lap, where he remained until Leon Haslam knocked him off the top spot.

The Honda’s of Dan Linfoot and Jason O’Halloran showed strong pace to join Haslam on the provisional front row, but Aussie O’Halloran was bumped back to fourth as Byrne decimated his opposition to break the lap record on his way to his second pole of the year.

Superpole Results 

 

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