Image: Rusty Colvin.

Team Honda Racing’s Josh Hook will start out of pole position for this weekend’s Phillip Island Championship after laying down a 1m33.234 in this afternoon’s final 30-minute qualifying session.

Hook recorded his time on lap ten 10 strung together 16 in total, eventually 0.117s clear from teammate Jamie Stauffer, and 0.569s faster than Motul Honda stablemate Wayne Maxwell.

“That qualifying was good,” Hook said. “We didn’t go out this morning because of the weather not being that crash hot – I decided to sit out and it proved to be the right decision.

“The track does not have the amount of grip, but it’s still a fair bit to offer out there. Team Honda Racing are working really hard at the moment with the all new CBR1000RR SP and I only see it getting better from here.

“It’s a unreal feeling to be on pole and hopefully there are more to come, will just have to back it up tomorrow. I’m feeling pretty good, but I’m sure these guys will stick it to me and they won’t be that far behind that’s for sure.”

Both Hook and Stauffer are aboard Honda’s all-new up-spec CBR1000RR SP, while Maxwell is on a 2013 version CBR1000RR. All three are equipped with Pirelli tyres this weekend.

In fourth place was Phil Lovett on his Cessnock Motorcycle/Central Coast Harley Davidson Kawasaki ZX10R with 1m35.176.

Fifth place overall and first of the Prostock riders was Sean Condon (Bikebiz/IPONE/Swann Insurance Racing Kawasaki) also saddling a green machine. Condon’s biggest drama in Qualifying was not being able to score a clean lap to lay down a quicker time.

“It wasn’t a bad qualifying, as the bike felt good and I felt good,” said Comdon. “It was just unfortunate I could not get one single clear lap out there. You let people go and then next minute you catch them right back up again within two corners. So just to get a clear lap was very hard!”

Condon did however get half a clear lap which steered him to pole position in the Prostock class.

“Once we hit the race tomorrow when there are not so many slower people in front will be right,” added the 24-year old.

New Zealander Sloan Frost, who is riding the Pirelli/Dynotech BMW HP4, was sixth and also shared the fastest top speed with Hook – both recording 293kmh.

In the Supersport class it was pure class once again from the 2013 Australian Supersport Champion Daniel Falzon (Jon Daniels Racing/Caterpillar/EPSA) as he proved too good for the field by claiming pole with a 1m37.366.

“We are very pleased to be starting from pole position tomorrow after some tricky conditions in the first qualifying,” said the likeable South Australian. “I’m really looking forward to race tomorrow and fingers crossed the wind dies down and we can push out some easy 35s.”

Falzon will start ahead of Aaron Morris (Maxima Yamaha) and Callum Spriggs (YRD/Allsite Concrete Cutting). In fourth place was Samuel Lambert on his Triumph 675R, posting a 1m38.735.

Rounding out the top five was Hudson Pitt (Bleasdale Wines/Underground Designs), with former World Supersport rider Matt Davies (Iplex Pipelines/Winslow Constructors/YRD Yamaha) just 0.031s behind him.

Race one in the Historic class was taken out by none other than Mr.Superbike himself Robbie Phillis on the #32 Suzuki Katana. Phillis lead home Scott Webster on the Moto Martin Suzuki by 2.212 seconds with Laurie Fyffe in third on the Suzuki Harris.

What was meant to be a five-lap journey ended up being a three-lapper due the red flag being brought out when Darren Tindale came off at Turn 12.

Jacob Whitehouse will start out of pole in the juniors – the second round of the MRRDA Winter Series.

2014 Phillip island Championship
Round one – Phillip Island, VIC

Superbike overall qualifying results:
1. Josh HOOK 1m33.234
2. Jamie STAUFFER 1m33.351
3. Wayne MAXWELL 1m33.803
4. Phil LOVETT 1m35.176
5. Sean CONDON 1m35.531 (Prostock)
6. Sloan FROST 1m35.964
7. Chris TROUNSON 1m36.070 (Prostock)
8. Michael JONES 1m36.208
9. Trent GIBSON 1m36.236
10. Dustin GOLDSMITH 1m36.464 (Prostock)

Supersport overall qualifying results:
1. Daniel FALZON 1m37.366
2. Aaron MORRIS 1m38.011
3. Callum SPRIGGS 1m38.503
4. Samuel LAMBERT 1m38.735
5. Hudson PITT 1m38.910
6. Matthew DAVIES 1m38.941
7. Ben BLYTH 1m40.552
8. Justin DIGIANDOMENICO 1m40.686
9. Jay PRESEPIO 1m40.798
10. Aaiden COOTE 1m40.938

Click here for detailed results