Source: BSB.

Japan’s Ryuichi Kiyonari claimed a sensational pole position for the fourth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship at Knockhill.

The triple champion pushed out Josh Brookes by just 0.004s on his final lap to return to the top in Datatag Extreme Qualifying for the first time since 2010.

The Buildbase BMW rider saved the best for last to outgun Brookes aboard the Milwaukee Yamaha in a frantic session which saw the positions change at the top six times in the final eight minutes and end with the top ten covered by just 0.569s.

Kiyonari secured Buildbase BMW’s first pole start of the season, he said: “I am very happy and feel confident with the bike that I can push on.

“I did faster laps, then went back some places and then on the last lap I knew I had to push and just thought ‘go’. We will push hard tomorrow and hopefully we can win, or at least be on the podium. I will try one hundred percent again for the races.”

Brookes, currently third in the standings and the only rider to have beaten Byrne so far, thought that he had done enough to secure pole.

He said: “I thought that will do us and I had done enough to get pole without taking any risks. Usually I like Kiyo, but I don’t right now!”

Byrne will start from third on the grid alongside Kiyonari and Brookes. He had a brief stint at the top and knows he has what it takes to fight back tomorrow.

Byrne said: “I’ve always said that pole was not that important but being on the front row here is. We will work hard tonight to find that extra bit so we can fight for the wins again tomorrow.”

Byrne’s pace was enough to relegate his team-mate, Flying Scot Stuart Easton, who had also led the session momentarily, back into fourth place and a second row start alongside James Ellison on the leading Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki. James Westmoreland on the second Buildbase BMW completes row two.

Jakub Smrz on the Millsport Ducati, Chris Walker on the second Lloyds British GBmoto Kawasaki and Bathams BMW rider Michael Rutter are on the third row with a top ten featuring four different manufacturers.

Tommy Bridewell had set the seventh best time, but a three grid place penalty was imposed on the Milwaukee Yamaha rider after a black and orange flag infringement in free practice, relegated him to the fourth row.

Australian Tyco Suzuki rider Josh Waters slotted his GSX-R1000 into 16th position after bowing out in Q2.

Graeme Gowland made it three back to back wins at the expense of his Motorpoint British Supersport Championship leading Smiths Triumph team-mate Billy McConnell in the rain shortened Sprint race.

Gowland had set the pace across the weekend and made a rapid get-away from pole start and was able to dictate terms throughout with McConnell riding hard, but unable to make any real impact and when the red-flags for rain ended the action at two thirds distance, the Aussie was trailing by 1.805secs.

McConnell, whose lead in the title stakes is down to 21 points said: “I think Graeme called upon all his motocross experience in race one as he got a good gate and was gone.

“To begin with, I was able to close in a bit but with the rain coming on, I thought about the fact I was leading the Championship and opted to play it safe and settle for second. The rain got progressively worse so it was the right call to end the race and it was another perfect 1-2 for the team, our fifth in a row.”

Luke Stapleford took a determined third place on his Profile Triumph with Luke Jones fourth on the Acumen Industrial Services Triumph ahead of Jake Dixon on the Appleyard/Macadam & Doodson Yamaha.

The Superstock 1000 ranks, topped by Danny Buchan, saw David Johnson qualify seventh and Jason O’Halloran 11th. The Superstock 600 session was topped by Andy Reid, with Levi Day seventh, Benjamin Currie 13th and James Mutton 27th.

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