Image: Keith Muir.

SA Kawasaki BCperformance’s Robbie Bugden continues to set the benchmark in the 2016 Australian FX-Superbike Championship (AFX-SBK), securing the pole position this afternoon at Queensland Raceway’s penultimate round.

Bugden posted a 1m10.452s in this afternoon’s lone qualifying session, to lead Michael Blair (IPONE Yamaha) by just 0.061s, Ben Burke (SA Kawasaki BCperformance) and Craig McMartin (Racer’s Edge Performance/Craig McMartin Racing Ducati).

McMartin got the better of team regular Beau Beaton (Racer’s Edge Performance/Craig McMartin Racing Ducati) for the final spot on the front row, while Matt Walters (Kawasaki Connection Repsol) was 1.1s outside of pole in sixth.

The Supersport pole position belonged to Kyle Buckley (SA Kawasaki BCperformance), his 1m13.086s three-tenths quicker than Mitch Levy (Yamaha), with Jordan Carlsson (Yamaha), Sam Muldoon (Kawasaki) and Chris Quinn (Yamaha) completing the top five.

Other riders to qualifying on top at the conclusion of Friday’s proceedings included Dominic De Leon (Formula Xtreme), Alex Cudlin Motorsports’ Broc Pearson (FX-300 Ninja Cup), Simon Galloway (Formula Oz) and Beaton (Pro-Twins/Nakedbikes).