The combined practice times in BSB Superbikes will set the grid for the opening race after wet weather forced the cancellation of qualifying. Image: BritishSuperbikes.com.

Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes will start from pole position for the opening British Superbike Championship race at Thruxton after the Extreme Qualifying session was cancelled due to track conditions following heavy rainfall.

The grid will be set from combined practice times, meaning Lowes’ fastest lap from the second session puts him on pole ahead of American PJ Jacobsen and defending champion Shane Byrne; Josh Brookes’ Tyco Suzuki holds onto fourth for the final front-row berth.

Series officials, including safety delegates and chief stewards, met to unanimously determine that the poor conditions were enough to force the cancellation of Extreme Qualifying.

Defending champion Byrne backed the officials’ call to revert to combined practice times.

“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,” said Byrne.

“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.”

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Waters will therefore retain his top practice placing, snaring a second row start with the seventh-fastest time.

“A second row start isn’t too bad as I can hopefully get in and follow the lead group in the races,” said Waters.

“We made some changes so we will see what the weather does in the morning; there are certain sections where I know I need to work at a bit more in warm up so we can see where we are at.”

Mar-Train Yamaha’s Stuart Easton will start the Supersport race from pole, followed by Glen Richards aboard the Smiths Triumph, Alastair Seeley on the Gearlink Kawasaki and Billy McConnell on the second Smiths machine.

Levi Day (16th) and Mark Wilkinson (17th) begin their charge in the Superstock race from their earlier qualifying positions after poor conditions prevented any kind of gain in the second and final session. Fellow Aussie James Mutton will start from 37th.