Image: Keith Muir.

Kawasaki Connection’s Matthew Walters has claimed the first Australian FX-Superbike Championship pole position of 2016 this afternoon at Sydney Motorsport Park.

Walters set a 1m32.535s on lap six of six in the session on board the latest Ninja ZX-10R, leading Robbie Bugden (SA Kawasaki BCperformance), rookie Michael Blair (IPONE Blairbuild Yamaha) and Ben Burke (SA Kawasaki BCperformance).

Upon return to the Superbike ranks LTR Honda-mounted Paul Byrne completed the top five, with Beau Beaton (Racer’s Edge Performance Craig McMartin Racing Ducati) sixth and the final rider within a second of the pole time.

Brad Swallow (Team BSR Kawasaki Connection), Brendan McIntyre (Western Motorcycles Suzuki), Liam Wilkinson (Yamaha) and Mathew Harding (Kawasaki) rounded out the top 10.

Image: Keith Muir.

In Supersport it was Cambridge Olivier (Yamaha) who qualified quickest, his 1m36.098s edging Samuel Muldoon (Kawasaki), Mark Chiodo (Triumph) and Jordan Carlsson (Yamaha) on the front row. Kyle Buckley (Kawasaki) was fifth.

Other pole-setters for the opening round included Simon Galloway (Formula Oz), Beau Beaton (Pro-Twins), Richard Wilkinson (Nakedbike) and Sam Condon (FX300 Ninja Cup).

The opening races of the season will now take place this afternoon and into the evening in Sydney. Stay tuned for more to come on CycleOnline.com.au.