Tommy Hill continued to be the man to beat in the 2011 British Superbike after leading a Swan Yamaha 1-2 in qualifying at Oulton Park.
The championship leader had set the standard throughout free practice and picked up where he left off in qualifying, taking pole by 0.281s from his teammate Michael Laverty.
The Cheshire circuit was the venue where Hill agonisingly lost the chance to become British Superbike Champion, but the Lingfield rider maintains that it isn't on his mind this weekend.
“I've forgotten about that. People ask if going into Lodge Corner comes back to haunt me, but it does not. I made a mistake and that was that. Now it is time to move on.”
“In fact Oulton Park is my favourite circuit but now I have to concentrate on turning this pole into race wins. Things are looking good. I have been consistent across the weekend so far and now I have to get the job done in the races.”
Alongside the Swan Yamaha duo will be John Hopkins after the American snatched third from Loris Baz in the dying seconds. The French teenager will still start on the front row though in fourth.
Josh Brookes was the nearest challenger to the Swan Yamaha's on Saturday and the Australian continued his impressive form on Sunday, qualifying the Relentless Suzuki in fifth place ahead of Stuart Easton.
HM Plant Honda have struggled for pace after a strong start to the season at Brands Hatch. The reigning champions don't seem to have solved the issues that held them back in practice and Shane 'Shakey' Byrne and Ryuichi Kiyonari will start seventh and ninth, sandwiching Motorpoint Yamaha's James Westmoreland.
Alex Lowes leads the way in the EVO class in 12th, but title rival Glen Richards will start a couple of places behind, promising a fierce tussle between the WFR Honda teammates in tomorrow's first race.
British Superbike Championship: Oulton Park: Qualifying:
1. Tommy HILL (Swan Yamaha) 1:35.175
2. Michael LAVERTY (Swan Yamaha) 1:35.466
3. John HOPKINS (Samsung Crescent Racing) 1:35.803
4. Loris BAZ (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1:35.838
5. Josh BROOKES (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) 1:35.980
6. Stuart EASTON (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 1:36.131
7. Shane BYRNE (HM Plant Honda) 1:36.386
8. James WESTMORELAND (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1:36.388
9. Ryuichi KIYONARI (HM Plant Honda) 1:36.549
10. Michael RUTTER (Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati) 1:36.570
11. Dan LINFOOT (Team Sorrymate.com) 1:36.715
12. Alex LOWES (EVO) (Team WFR) 1:36.768
13. Peter HICKMAN (Tyco Honda) 1:36.785
14. Glen RICHARDS (EVO) (Team WFR) 1:36.820
15. Chris WALKER (Pr1mo Racing) 1:36.826
16. Jon KIRKHAM (Samsung Crescent Racing) 1:36.833
17. Gary MASON (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 1:36.951
18. Martin JESSOPP (Rapid Solicitors Bathams Ducati) 1:37.052
19. Simon ANDREWS (EVO) (PR Racing Kawasaki) 1:37.329
20. Ian LOWRY (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 1:37.501
21. Steve BROGAN (Jentin Racing Honda) 1:38.435
22. 88 Scott SMART E Ducati – Moto Rapido Ducati GBR 1:38.496
23. 56 Hudson KENNAUGH Aprilia – Splitlath Motorsport RSA 1:38.603
24. James HILLIER (EVO) (Bournemouth Kawasaki Racing) 1:38.736
25. Aaron ZANOTTI (EVO) (Quattro Plant Spike Racing) 1:39.369
26. Barry BURRELL (EVO) (Buildbase BMW Motorrad) 1:39.411
27. Craig FITZPATRICK (EVO) (Close Print Finance/BLDS) 1:40.187
28. Patric MUFF (EVO) (Tyco Honda) 1:40.223
29. Tom TUNSTALL (EVO) (Doodson Motorsport) 1:40.607
30. Matteo MOSSA (EVO) (777RR Motorsport) 1:44.191
31. Jenny TINMOUTH (Splitlath Motorsport) 1:44.422
