Image: Keith Muir.

IPONE Yamaha’s Michael Blair claimed the Australian FX-Superbike Championship (AFX-SBK) pole position ahead of this weekend’s Swann Insurance Australasian Superbike Championship (ASC) at Queensland Raceway.

Blair set a fastest lap of 1m09.914s during the afternoon qualifying session, heading Robbie Bugden (SA Kawasaki BCperformance) and Ben Burke (SA Kawasaki BCperformance).

The top seven were within a second of Blair’s benchmark, including Beau Beaton (Racer’s Edge Performance/Craig McMartin Racing/North Coast V-Twin Ducati), Matt Walters (Repsol Kawasaki Connection), Paul Byrne (LTR Honda) and Beaton’s teammate Craig McMartin.

In Supersport it was the in-form Mitch Levy (Yamaha) who was quickest with a 1m12.958s laptime, followed by Kyle Buckley (Kawasaki), Jordan Carlsson (Yamaha), Ryan Masri (Kawasaki) and Anthony Quinn (Yamaha).

Other riders to set the pace during Friday’s qualifying proceedings included Broc Pearson (FX300 Ninja Cup), Simon Galloway (Formula Oz), Craig McMartin (Pro-Twins/Nakedbike) and Tim Boujos (eFXC).