Swan Yamaha's Tommy Hill claimed his third pole position of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship season at Knockhill Saturday afternoon as he held off the challenges from his title rivals with Samsung Honda's Michael Laverty crashing out in the final minute.
In the opening qualifying session Laverty set the pace on the Samsung Honda from Alex Lowes who worked his way up the order in the final minutes to move second on the WFR Honda. Defending champion Hill was outside the top ten in the early stages of the session but climbed the order in the final five minutes to move third.
Noriyuki Haga dramatically crashed out in Q1 at Clarks in the final minutes of the session but the Swan Yamaha rider was unhurt and returned to the garage. The team worked quickly to repair the bike and he returned to the track. The Japanese ace then topped the times in Q2 ahead of Hill, Laverty and Seeley.
In the third and final stage of qualifying Hill set the early pace from Laverty and Brookes with Shane 'Shakey' Byrne threatening in fourth. Laverty had his sights set on snatching the pole position on his final lap but crashed out at Scotsman to end his chance. The Samsung Honda rider will start alongside Hill with Tyco Suzuki's Brookes completing the front row.
Hill said: "It was tricky for everyone and I did chicken out a bit in the second session when there were a few spots of rain and took it a bit steady. It is difficult to know how hard to push and Josh was pushing hard at the end so I knew I just had to bite the screen and go for it to get the lap in. It is always hard to judge but the others were pushing hard and with three to a row here it is important to be on the front row. I am happy but not overly confident that the conditions will stay consistent tomorrow but we will be trying to get the Swan Yamaha back on the podium."
Byrne set the fourth fastest time on the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki to head row two from Ian Lowry and Haga who improved in the dying moments of the final session. Graeme Gowland, Tommy Bridewell and James Westmoreland complete the third row with Seeley rounding out the top ten.
MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Knockhill, qualifying result:1.Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 48.785s2.Michael Laverty (Samsung Honda) +0.068s3.Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.329s4.Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.375s5.Ian Lowry (Padgetts Honda) +0.487s6.Noriyuki Haga (Swan Yamaha) +0.727s7.Graeme Gowland (WFR Honda) +0.745s8.Tommy Bridewell (Supersonic BMW) +0.768s9.James Westmoreland (WFR Honda) +0.906s10.Alastair Seeley (Tyco Suzuki) +0.939s
