Samsung Honda’s Alex Lowes broke the Silverstone lap record on the way to another Superbike pole position.

Alex Lowes has lowered the Silverstone lap record en route to another dominant pole position at the penultimate round of the British Superbike Championship.

The Samsung Honda rider made marked improvements across the day to turn out a 2m05.724 effort, over half-a-second clear of title rival, Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki’s Shane Byrne.

Lowes is eager to capitalise on his pole position and will need two trouble-free races if he is to take the points lead from Byrne this weekend.

“It was a lot better in qualifying than it had been earlier when I was struggling a bit, but I enjoyed that session and we can do a bit more before the races which are when the real action starts,” said Lowes.

I think it will be close in the races tomorrow but hopefully not as close as Assen!” he said, referring to his disqualification after contact with Byrne.

For Byrne, it was a bruising day and he did well to even make it back to the track after a huge high-side crash in the morning free practice session.

He received clearance to contest qualifying just moments before the session commenced, and was relieved to register a time good enough for second on the grid.

“The bike just came round on me and flipped over the top and and I landed heavily on my side,” said Byrne. “I’m just relieved to have got out there for qualifying.

I don’t know what I’ve done but it was not very comfortable. The medics did a lot of work to get me out there and I have to thank them for that as the time before qualifying has just disappeared!”

American PJ Jacobsen qualified his Tyco Suzuki in third ahead of teammate and Australian title hopeful Josh Brookes who was fourth.

Jon Kirkham slotted his Buildbase BMW into the top five, with Peter Hickman in sixth, his best qualifying session of the season on the Lloyds British GB Moto Honda.

Gearlink Kawasaki’s Alastair Seeley won a tumultuous Supersport sprint race from Aussie Billy McConnell and Luke Mossey.

MarTrain Yamaha’s Stuart Easton crashed out early as a battle between the top five ensued.

Polesitter Samsung Honda’s Jason O’Halloran took the lead at mid-race distance and was in the running for the win before he was clipped on the final lap by McConnell, resulting in a DNF.

Josh Wainright took the Superstock 1000 pole position while Callan Cooper registered the top time in Superstock 600. Australia was represented solidly in the 600ccc class with Levi Day in 12th, James Mutton in 21st and Mark Wilkinson in 22nd.

2013 British Superbike Championship
Round 11 – Silverstone

Superbike qualifying:
1. Alex LOWES 2m05.724
2. Shane BYRNE 2m06.278
3. PJ JACOBSEN 2m06.320
4. Josh BROOKES 2m06.770
5. Jon KIRKHAM 2m06.900
6. Peter HICKMAN 2m06.996
7. Matteo BAIOCCO 2m07.062
8. Tommy BRIDEWELL 2m07.154
9. James WESTMORELAND 2m07.276
10. Jakub SMRZ 2m07.463
15. Josh WATERS (AUS) 2m08.213

Supersport race results N/A.

Click here for detailed results