Shane Byrne will start tomorrow’s MCE British Superbike opening race from third on the grid after rain put pay to qualifying.
With qualifying cancelled due to the weather conditions at Thruxton this afternoon, pole was decided by combined free practices times.
Therefore Alex Lowes time from free practice two on Friday afternoon was good enough to put him on pole position. Alongside him is American PJ Jacobson who lines-up on the front row for the first time, in just his second BSB race.
With Shakey in third place the front row is completed by Josh Brookes on his Tyco Suzuki ensuring that all the main protagonists are on the front row ahead of race one tomorrow.
Shakey said after qualifying was called off: “Fortunately we did the job we needed to in free practice so the outcome today hasn’t been as bad as it could have been, so either way I think we are in pretty good shape for the races.”
“The conditions have been changeable so far this weekend but we have made some good progress; Thruxton is a bit unique in terms of settings but we should be in good stead as the team have worked hard. I am happy to be starting from the front row and it was the right call this afternoon.”
On row two Jacob Smurz starts in fifth place ahead of the veteran Michael Rutter in sixth and Josh Waters and the experienced Chris Walker.
The Top Ten for race one of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, at Thruxton, will be:
- Alex Lowes (Samsung Honda) 1m:21.626s
- PJ Jacobsen (Tyco Suzuki) +0.294s
- Shane Byrne (Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki) +0.378s
- Josh Brookes (Tyco Suzuki) +0.602s
- Jakub Smrz (Padgetts Honda) +1.065s
- Michael Rutter (Bathams Honda) +1.067s
- Josh Waters (Milwaukee Yamaha) +1.115s
- Chris Walker (Quattro Plant Bournemouth Kawasaki) +1.143s
- Jon Kirkham (Buildbase BMW) +1.297s
- James Westmoreland (Buildbase BMW) +1.364s
Race one gets underway at 1:45pm tomorrow afternoon with race two starting at 4:20pm with Shakey looking to maintain his slender lead in the standings.