Source: BSB.

Shane ‘Shakey’ Byrne snatched the pole position by just 0.001s from fierce title rival Josh Brookes in an incredibly close qualifying session at Brands Hatch for the sixth round of the MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship.

Milwaukee Yamaha’s Brookes had been instantly fast out of the blocks, firing in a time immediately inside the lap record of the Kent circuit on his first flying lap.

The Australian was pushing hard but Byrne retaliated and he edged ahead on the PBM Kawasaki as the closing minutes ticked down.

Brookes was not prepared to be outdone without a fight and he made a hard-charging last gasp effort to reclaim the top position, crossing the line agonisingly close as the pair were separated by just 0.001s, but the four-time title winner held the position.

Michael Laverty, who last Sunday raced in the German round of MotoGP, completes the front row of the grid on his Tyco BMW, running only 0.385s adrift of Byrne to claim his best qualifying performance in three years.

Richard Cooper aboard the Anvil Hire TAG Kawasaki heads the second row in fourth as he achieved his best qualifying performance of his season, edging out Stuart Easton on the second PBM Kawasaki and James Ellison on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Broc Parkes was another rider to up his game this weekend with his best qualifying of the season in seventh on the Milwaukee Yamaha, ahead of the former three times title winner Ryuichi Kiyonari on the Buildbase BMW.

John Hopkins on his return to the series with the Lloyds British Moto Rapido Ducati team was ninth after an impressive start while Luke Mossey on the Quattro Plant Kawasaki completed the top 10 qualifiers who are separated by a 0.903s margin.

Honda Racing’s Jason O’Halloran was 12th in qualifying, Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW) 24th, Josh Waters (Bennetts Suzuki) 25th and Jed Metcher (PR Racing Kawasaki) 29th.

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