Brookes bags pole by 0.072s as race one beckons at Donington Park

Josh Brookes maintained his position at the top of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park this afternoon as the Be Wiser Ducati rider held off the charge from Scott Redding and Jason O'Halloran to claim his second pole position of the season.

An incredibly close Datatag Qualifying 1 session with the top 23 riders covered by just 0.702s and Andrew Irwin and Honda Racing were the first to be hit with drama when he crashed out at the Old Hairpin. The team repaired the minimal damage to the Fireblade and was able to qualify for Q2 and will start 13th on the grid for the opening race.

James Ellison and Bradley Ray missed out on Q2, whilst Tyco BMW’s Christian Iddon will start 18th on the grid for the opening race after he crashed out when he high-sided at Coppice, bringing out a brief red flag for debris after the crash.

Danny Buchan narrowly missed out on the final stage Q3 session in the closing moments when he dropped out of the top nine in the final minutes and he starts tenth this afternoon but in the final battle for pole position Brookes had the edge.

Tarran Mackenzie will head the second row of the grid alongside Tommy Bridewell and Luke Mossey who completes the top six from Datatag Qualifying with Luke Stapleford the top Suzuki in seventh. Hector Barbera qualified in the top nine on his debut with Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki team with Dan Linfoot rounding out the top nine.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Datatag Qualifying:

1. Josh Brookes (Be Wiser Ducati) 1m:05.868s
2. Scott Redding (Be Wiser Ducati) +0.072s
3. Jason O'Halloran (McAMS Yamaha +0.113s
4. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.123s
5. Tommy Bridewell (Oxford Racing Ducati) +0.333s
6. Luke Mossey (OMG Racing Suzuki) +0.368s
7. Luke Stapleford (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.433s
8. Hector Barbera (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.530s
9. Dan Linfoot (Santander Salt TAG Yamaha) +0.595s