Josh Brookes was top Australian in BSB qualifying, sixth on the grid.

Reigning MCE Insurance British Superbike champion Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne will start the opening race of the season on the Brands Hatch Indy Circuit from pole position having headed off the threat from Alex Lowes in the Datatag Extreme Qualifying session.

Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Byrne had set the pace in free practice and carried that momentum forward into qualifying, running at near lap record pace, as he gave the pretenders to his crown a reminder that he has his sights firmly set on a record-breaking fourth title.

“The aim was to be on the front row of the grid,” said Byrne. “We still have some work to do but as the saying goes – so far, so good.

“Myself and Kiyo are obviously both aiming for that fourth title but there are plenty of other riders who won’t make it easy for us starting tomorrow here at Brands Hatch.”

Lowes closed his Samsung Honda to within 0.142 seconds of Byrne and was satisfied with his performance, he said.

“There’s no doubt that Shakey is the man around here, but I enjoyed us all going for it again in qualifying,” Lowes commented. “The lap I did was my best lap time around Brands Hatch; I was a bit nervous not to do too much too soon but I am really happy with the front row start.”

Third fastest was James Ellison, returning from MotoGP to ride for Milwaukee Yamaha, and he joked about his return to the front row.

“My crew chief told me not to come back to the garage if I was not up at the front, so I am happy enough with third,” Ellison added. “Shakey set a hot pace out there but I am happy that I am in a good position for the races tomorrow.”

Buildbase BMW’s Jon Kirkham completes the front row which features four different manufacturers as he edged out Keith Farmer on the second Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki.

Last season’s runner-up Josh Brookes, returning triple champion Ryuichi Kiyonari and American PJ Jacobsen complete row two ahead of James Westmoreland and Dan Linfoot as six teams featured in the top ten qualifiers.

“I’m sort of happy with that even though sixth place is not a qualifying position I’d normally settle for,” Brookes said.

“It’s all about making progression at this stage of the season and while I’d like to be up front dominating, we just didn’t have the pace to do that today. I’m not overly-bothered about some of the guys in front of me who I see as one-lap wonders.”

Australian Superbike Champion Josh Waters was 16th on debut with the Milwaukee Yamaha team.

South Australian Billy McConnell rode his Smith’s Triumph to pole in Supersport, however it was Stuart Easton who made a triumphant return as he won a re-started thriller.

McConnell took over in the second place at the expense of Ben Wilson on the fifth lap, but there was no way past Easton.

“Stuart was as smooth as ever and got into a rhythm but it is always so good to start the season with a podium and with the riders we have this year, every race and point is going to count,” McConnell said.

Alastair Seeley, who had been back in fifth place in the early stages of the race, battled back strongly from a poor start and a mid-race mistake to overcome reigning champion Glen Richards and then Wilson to mark his debut with Gearlink Kawasaki with a third place.

Wilson took fourth place ahead of Richards and Seton Yamaha’s Graeme Gowland.

Samsung Honda’s Jason O’Halloran highsided at Druids, forcing him out of the race upon return to the Supersport ranks.

The Superstock 600 category saw Levi Day as top Aussie in seventh, Mark Wilkinson 18th and James Mutton 35th.

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