Three crashes and pole position for Brookes at BSB season opener

Josh Brookes claimed an incredible pole position on his debut with Milwaukee Yamaha after bouncing back from three crashes from three sessions to edge out Ryuichi Kiyonari for the top spot in the opening Datatag Extreme Qualifying battle of the 2014 MCE BSB season at Brands Hatch.

The session in wet conditions caught out several of the leading contenders and a dramatic Q1 saw Brookes slide off before he even completed a flying lap; however the Milwaukee Yamaha team salvaged the session despite a second crash to make it thorough to Q2. Brookes then dug deep in the final Q3 session to close in lap by lap on the previous pace-setter Ryuichi Kiyonari to displace the Japanese rider who was desperate to secure his first pole position for the first time since 2010.

Brookes said: "I had felt in control in the final free practice and everything was going smoothly even though it was the first day we rode in the wet and it was going to plan. In qualifying it was completely different conditions and I went out and fell off. I managed to get the bike back to the garage as there was time to get it back to the team and we started again and then I crashed for the second time. Again I made it back and the Milwaukee Yamaha guys did a great job to fix it all and I got back out to be in Q2. I am thrilled to be on the pole position and the team now have to work to get the bike back to how it was but I feel this might go some way towards repaying them for their hard work during that session. I am really pleased with how things are going and I am looking forward to hopefully a dry race tomorrow."

In the first session Jakub Smrz had his hopes of a front row dashed when he slid off the Millsport Ducati, closely followed by Simon Andrews on the RAF Reserves Honda as Kiyonari held the top spot from Michael Dunlop.

There was drama for the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki team as Stuart Easton was one of the contenders not to make it through to Q2 in 23rd position ahead of Dan Linfoot on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki. Shane 'Shakey' Byrne got his hopes of a strong qualifying session dashed when he crashed in the closing stages of Q1 and despite getting back on circuit in Q2, the triple champion missed out on the top ten and will start thirteenth on the grid for the opening race tomorrow.

In Q3 John Hopkins proved that he could still master the conditions as the Tyco Suzuki rider claimed the final position on the front row in third making it a truly international affair, despite the front row riders all having a crash in the final stages of Q3.

Chris Walker was the leading Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki in fourth place, despite a crash for the 'Stalker' who held off James Westmoreland in the closing stages of Q3. Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki complete row two on their debut in the series with Richard Cooper locking out sixth place.

Gearlink Kawasaki qualified for Q3 with another impressive performance on their first appearance in the Superbike class in seventh ahead of Michael Rutter on the Bathams BMW and Keith Farmer who only managed a fast lap before sliding out of the session. Patric Muff completed the top ten after not setting a time in the final session after a crash in Q2 following his fastest lap of the afternoon.

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Brands Hatch, Datatag Extreme qualifying:

Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) 55.093sRyuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) +0.703sJohn Hopkins (Tyco Suzuki) +1.055sChris Walker (Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki) +1.160sJames Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +1.204sRichard Cooper (Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki) +1.322sBen Wilson (Gearlink Kawasaki) +1.843sMichael Rutter (Bathams BMW) +1.897sKeith Farmer (PR Racing Kawasaki) +2.841sPatric Muff (Bathams BMW)


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