Billy McConnell out-gunned his Smiths Racing Triumph team-mate, reigning Motorpoint British Supersport champion Glen Richards in the final minutes of a session long scrap for the first pole start of the season for this afternoon's opening Sprint race at Brands Hatch.

Richards took the early advantage as the session got underway but McConnell fought back, taking the top spot however it wasn't long before Richards again moved ahead as the team-mates duelled early in the session.

Briefly former champion Stuart Easton then powered his Mar-Train Yamaha to the front, but within seconds McConnell had upped the pace with a pole setting lap of 46.750s which Richards rode hard to match but ended 0.235s adrift.

McConnell said after the session: "Pole is a good way to start the season, the hard work we've done in the team is paying off. Now I need to get a good start in the race this afternoon and go for it."

Easton, returning to the series from MCE BSB, starts from the front row, marginally faster than another former champion Alastair Seeley whose pace nudged his Gearlink Kawasaki team-mate Ben Wilson onto the second row. Mar-Train Yamaha's Glenn Irwin, Graeme Gowland on the Seton Yamaha and Samsung Honda's Jason O'Halloran complete row two.

Deane Brown on the Appleyard/Macadam Yamaha and Luke Mossey, who tumbled off the Techcare/Profile Triumph midway through the session complete the top ten qualifiers.

Motorpoint British Supersport Championship, Brands Hatch, qualifying for Sprint race: 1. Billy McConnell (SmithsRacing Triumph 46.750s2.Glen Richards (Smiths Racing Triumph +0.235s3.Stuart Easton (MarTrain Yamaha) +0.255s4.Alastair Seeley (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.282s5.Ben Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) +0.539s