Source: British Superbike Championship

Australia’s Josh Brookes has snared the first pole position of the 2014 British Superbike Championship (BSB) season despite a series of crashes in torrid wet conditions at Brands Hatch.

The Milwaukee Yamaha rider crashed three times across three sessions but was able to bounce back in the telling stages to take pole position with a 55.093s lap, 0.703s clear of second-placed qualifier, Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari.

Completing an all-international front row was Tyco Suzuki’s John Hopkins, the American rider managing the tough conditions to take grid position three.

Row two will be headed by Chris Walker aboard the first Lloyds British GBmoto Racing Kawasaki, with James Westmoreland beside him on the second Buildbase BMW, next to Anvil Hire TAG Racing Kawasaki’s Richard Cooper.

The variable conditions played havoc with a number of riders’ plans, none moreso than title favourite Shane Byrne. The Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki rider missed the cut to Q3 and will start from 13th place for the Easter Monday opener.

Aussie Josh Waters was solid in the wet weather, making inroads on his free practice position to secure grid position 14 ahead of his debut race for Tyco Suzuki. Waters’ 58.258 effort saw him around seven-tenths shy of a berth in the final Q3 session.

Similarly it was a strong showing for the third Australian rider in class, Mitchell Carr, who made forward progress to take grid position 22 on debut with Anvil Hire TAG Racing Kawasaki.

Carr out-qualified a host of more experienced domestic racers with a 59.557 lap in the Q1 session.

The first Supersport bout of the season was won by Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin who held off by Acumen Industrial Services Triumph rider Luke Jones by a 0.173s margin.

Alastair Seeley completed the sprint race podium with third for MarTrain Yamaha, with the race run in difficult wet conditions.

Billy McConnell made significant forward progress from his starting position of 16th, making up 10 places to take the chequered flag in sixth for Smiths Triumph.

In the Superstock 1000 ranks it was Tsingtao WK Kawasaki’s Danny Buchan maintaining his early form for pole, with Aussie Jason O’Halloran a close second for Honda Racing.

Glen Richards completes row three for Padgetts Honda in ninth, with countryman David Johnson to start 14th aboard his PR Racing Kawasaki.

Qualifying times from the first Superstock 600 session were close to 15 seconds quicker than Sunday’s efforts due to rain, crediting Yamaha’s Andy Reid with pole position.

Kawasaki’s Mason Law starts second with Yamaha’s Tom Oliver third, while Ben Currie holds his placed as the quickest Aussie in 10th aboard the Moto-Breakers Kawasaki.

As per Saturday’s results, Levi Day will start 16th, and James Mutton 28th.

Easter Monday will feature a pair of 30-lap races for the Superbike class, along with a second feature race for Supersport and the Superstock 1000 (24 laps) and Superstock 600 (22 laps) classes.

2014 British Superbike Championship
Round one, Brands Hatch

Superbike qualifying results:
1. Josh BROOKES (AUS) 55.093
2. Ryuichi KIYONARI 55.796
3. John HOPKINS 56.148
4. Chris WALKER 56.253
5. James WESTMORELAND 56.297
6. Richard COOPER 56.415
7. Ben WILSON 56.936
8. Michael RUTTER 56.990
9. Keith FARMER 57.934
10. Patric MUFF 57.219
14. Josh WATERS (AUS) 58.258
22. Mitchell CARR (AUS) 59.557

Supersport sprint race results:
1. Glenn IRWIN
2. Luke JONES +0.173
3. Alastair SEELEY +6.166
4. Alex OLSEN +1.304
5. Luke HEDGER +1.573
6. Billy McCONNELL (AUS) +13.340
7. Callan COOPER +0.068
8. Bjorn ESTMENT +3.404
9. Samuel HORNSEY +9.783
10. Daniel COOPER +1.047

Click here for detailed results