Source: British Superbike Championship

The back and forth British Superbike Championship (BSB) battle between Shane Byrne and Josh Brookes has continued during qualifying at Oulton Park, with a late flyer from the Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki securing pole position.

Byrne recovered from an unproductive Saturday session slowed by technical issues to bank a 1m34.557 lap on a used tyre, edging the Milwaukee Yamaha-mounted Aussie out by 0.327 seconds.

The free practice pacesetter, Brookes didn’t quite have the edge of his British rival but is confident that his R1 will provide a challenge in Monday’s Bank Holiday races.

Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki newcomer James Ellison continues to make impact, qualifying third and securing the team its first-ever front row start.

Position four will be filled by Stuart Easton on the second Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki, with Dan Linfoot next to him on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki and Tommy Bridewell in sixth for Milwaukee Yamaha, completing a lockout of the front two rows for the R1 and ZX-10R machines.

Buildbase BMW’s Ryuichi Kiyonari heads off row three from Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki’s Richard Cooper and Lloyds British GBmoto’s Chris Walker, who recovered from a fiery crash in the earlier free practice.

Completing the top 10 is Jakub Smrz, the Czech rider sliding a fourth manufacturer into the mix aboard the Milsport Ducati.

Josh Waters will look to made forwards progress in Monday’s races after qualifying his Tyco Suzuki in 15th place.

It was a tough outing for the team with US rider John Hopkins also struggling for pace in 13th.

Mitchell Carr was confirmed as sustaining a broken hand from a free practice crash a day earlier, making an early exit from the event.

British Supersport qualifying featured a final lap standoff between MarTrain Yamaha’s Alastair Seeley and Smiths Triumph’s Billy McConnell, with Seeley sealing the deal by a narrow 0.037-second margin.

McConnell returned fire in the sprint race, winning by a comfortable 5.278 seconds from Profile Racing Triumph’s Luke Stapleford, with Gearlink Kawasaki’s Glenn Irwin in third.

Seeley was one of seven non-finishers in the 12-lap dash, with the feature race to be held tomorrow.

The battle between Danny Buchan and Jason O’Halloran continued in the combined Superstock 1000 qualifying sessions, with Buchan maintaining the edge by 0.579 seconds for pole.

Aussie O’Halloran starts second aboard his Honda Racing CBR1000RR, with countryman David Johnson impressing for third place on the grid with PR Racing Kawasaki.

Glen Richards fared well for Padgetts Honda, qualifying 11th in the 51-rider field.

Two Aussies battled their way into the top 10 in Superstock 600 qualifying, with Moto-Breakers Kawasaki rider Ben Currie impressing in third and Levi Day close behind in seventh for CPE Motorsport.

Pole was secured by Ben Godfrey aboard the dominant Tsingtao WK Kawasaki, with only one second separating the top 10.

James Mutton will start out of grid position 27 for Monday’s race which will feature a 44-rider field.

2014 British Superbike Championship
Round two – Oulton Park

Superbike qualifying results:
1. Shane BYRNE 1m34.557
2. Josh BROOKES (AUS) 1m34.884
3. James ELLISON 1m34.938
4. Stuart EASTON 1m35.436
5. Dan LINFOOT 1m35.496
6. Tommy BRIDEWELL 1m35.549
7. Ryuichi KIYONARI 1m35.626
8. Richard COOPER 1m35.631
9. Chris WALKER 1m35.671
10. Jakub SMRZ 1m35.939
15. Josh WATERS (AUS) 1m36.317

Supersport sprint race results:
1. Billy McCONNELL (AUS)
2. Luke STAPLEFORD +5.278
3. Glenn IRWIN +7.095
4. Luke JONES +8.304
5. Jake DIXON +11.228
6. Taylor MACKENZIE +19.969
7. Callan COOPER +21.158
8. Dean HIPWELL +24.253
9. James RISPOLI +25.548
10. Sam COVENTRY +38.025

Click here for detailed results