Glenn Allerton continued his ASBK dominance with the Queensland Raceway Superpole. Image: Andrew Gosling/TBG Sport.

NextGen Motorsports BMW’s Glenn Allerton won an entertaining Superpole session to secure pole position for tomorrow’s third round of the QBE Australian Superbike Championship.

The dual ASBK series champion and current 2013 series leader inched to the pole in the third an final Superpole segment this afternoon, his fastest lap of 1m08.710 sealing the position.

Allerton’s time was well off the new circuit best of 1m08.183 he posted yesterday and also slower than his provisional pole time of 1m08.689 set this morning. His fastest Superpole lap this afternoon came in SP2 with a 1m08.643.

“The wind was probably a bit of a factor today, but I feel like I could have gone a lot faster if I put a whole lap together and the data says so,” Allerton told CycleOnline.com.au.

“I was a little bit tentative in the last Superpole, I had a little moment and was having some problems, but I think it’s because the cloud cover came over and the track temp dropped really quickly.

“You know, we still ended up P1 and I was probably just towing Robbie around – if the roles were reversed I think I could do a pretty good time if I had somebody out in front of me that I could chase.

“For tomorrow we’re in good shape, I feel like the bike’s working well and it’s really fast. I have no dramas about the race, I’m super confident and I’m looking forward to it.

“They’re probably a little bit closer than I’d like them to be, but I’ll take it any way I can get it.”

Team Suzuki teammates Robbie Bugden and Wayne Maxwell were right on the pace of Allerton in the final Superpole outing, Bugden’s 1m08.740 just 0.030 shy of Allerton’s eventual pole time.

“It definitely gives me confidence,” Bugden said. “Glenn’s had the advantage through testing and practice, but we’re slowly narrowing the advantage.

“We’re still improving our times and he’s coming back to us, so it’s positive for us and we’re working really hard here at Team Suzuki. Looking at those qualifying times, especially the last one, we’re still a chance.”

Maxwell posted his quickest lap of the weekend with a 1m08.783 in an improved performance, a sure confidence builder ahead of Sunday’s dual 17-lappers.

“Full credit to the guys at Team Suzuki, they got the bike back together and we’re in good steed,” Maxwell commented. “It’s very tight at the front, shows great parity in the rules between the manufacturers.

“I don’t think we need anymore outright speed, just some consistency in the bike. If we can run around between 8.7 to 8.9 for the race then we’ll be in a reasonable position and put Queensland behind us.

“I’ve been reasonably fast on a worn tyre through testing, but the conditions have been changing between air temperatures and the wind. We have the best feeling we have had all weekend, so come tomorrow I’ll be giving it 110 percent.”

Rookie standout Josh Hook (Team Honda Racing) was the final rider in the eights with a 1m08.839 to confirm his front row position, half a second clear of injured teammate Jamie Stauffer in fifth.

SP2 riders Linden Magee (Next Gen Motorsports BMW, 1m09.662), Chas Hern (CMR Racing Suzuki, 1m09.862), Glenn Scott (Team InsureMyRide Racing Honda, 1m10.156) and Ben Henry (Cube Racing Suzuki, 1m10.463) will fill positions six through nine.

Rounding out the top 10 after being eliminated in SP1 was Beau Beaton (Racers Edge Performance Suzuki), his best coming in at 1m10.618.

The opening Superbike race of the weekend will be staged at 12:30pm on Sunday afternoon.

Australian Superbike Championship
Round three – Queensland Raceway

Superbike Superpole results:
1. Glenn ALLERTON 1m08.710
2. Robert BUGDEN 1m08.740
3. Wayne MAXWELL 1m08.783
4. Josh HOOK 1m08.839
5. Jamie STAUFFER 1m09.584
6. Linden MAGEE 1m09.662 (SP2)
7. Chas HERN 1m09.862 (SP2)
8. Glenn SCOTT 1m10.156 (SP2)
9. Ben HENRY 1m10.463 (SP2)
10. Beau BEATON 1m10.618 (SP1)
11. Sloan FROST 1m10.810 (SP1)
12. Sean CONDON 1m10.830 (SP1)
13. Adam SENIOR 1m11.491 (SP1)

Click here for detailed results