Source: BSB.

The MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship Showdown continued dramatically at Assen as Title Fighters Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari crashed out of Datatag Extreme Qualifying, but it was delight for the Alstare Bimota Junior team who claimed a historic first pole position with Christian Iddon.

Kiyonari had led the dry track sessions, but as conditions began to change Byrne high-sided himself into the gravel, ending his hopes of a front row start and he lines up in 12th on the grid for the opening race.

Kiyonari then equalled his rival by crashing out in Q3 after a strong lap moved him second, but he later dropped down the order to head the second row in fourth.

Iddon meanwhile mastered the changeable conditions and stunned the Title Fighters with a determined ride to score his first pole position in the championship.

“I am pleasantly surprised as I was not expecting this,” said Iddon. “We had been working hard to set the bike for the dry and we are not quite there, but in these conditions it was a case of going out and enjoying it. We will have to see what improvements we can make now tomorrow to try and get in the mix with the leading guys.”

American former MotoGP rider John Hopkins starts his Tyco Suzuki alongside Iddon on the front row with Tommy Bridewell, the top qualifier among the six Title Fighters, completing the front row on his Milwaukee Yamaha.

Kiyonari starts ahead of Dan Linfoot on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki with Aussie Josh Brookes completing a second row locked out by Title Fighters.

Jon Kirkham heads up the third row ahead of Title Fighter Chris Walker on the Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki and Martin Jessopp in a top ten that featured five different manufacturers.

Next best of the Aussies was Josh Waters (Tyco Suzuki) in 13th, two positions ahead of BSB first-timer Jed Metcher (PR Racing Kawasaki) in 15th and Mitchell Carr (TAG Racing Kawasaki) in 29th.

Alastair Seeley powered back into contention to regain the Motorpoint British Supersport crown with his sixth victory of the season aboard his MarTrain Yamaha in changeable conditions at Assen.

Seeley’s success came in a problematic race for his two main rivals. Pole sitter Graeme Gowland crashed out of contention on the opening lap while his Smiths Triumph teammate and series leader Billy McConnell came home in 11th place.

James Rispoli brought his Team Traction Control Yamaha home in second place, the young American was just ahead of Luke Jones aboard the Acumen Industrial Services Triumph.

Bo Bendsneyder was again the pace-setter in the Motostar division taking pole position, with Australian Olly Simpson sixth overall on his KTM Moto3 machine.

2014 MCE British Superbike Championship
Round 10 – Assen, Netherlands

Superbike qualifying results:
1. Christian Iddon 1m52.261
2. John Hopkins 1m52.392
3. Tommy Bridewell 1m52.672
4. Ryuichi Kiyonari 1m52.778
5. Dan Linfoot 1m52.868
6. Josh Brookes (AUS) 1m53.226
7. Jon Kirkham 1m53.708
8. Chris Walker 1m53.836
9. Martin Jessopp 1m54.823
10. Peter Hickman 1m57.446
13. Josh Waters (AUS) 1m39.543
15. Jed Metcher (AUS) 1m39.585
29. Mitchell Carr (AUS) 1m40.767

Click here for detailed results