Josh Brookes - Photo Credit: Motorsport Vision
Josh Brookes beat Michael Laverty to pole position to secure pole position for the opening British Superbike race of the weekend at Snetterton. The Australian kept his cool in sweltering Norfolk conditions to beat Laverty by one thousandth of a second with championship leader Tommy Hill three hundredths further back in third.
Tyco Suzuki had a mixed session with Alastair Seeley back in fifteenth but their team leader was ecstatic and is confident of translating pole into victory tomorrow.
“I've got myself acclimatised to the Northern Ireland weather so that was hot out there today! My focus was on getting the tyre to work and last the race distance tomorrow. This is quite a tough circuit to get fast and tricky to get right but it's also really rewarding when you do. I knew that I had done my best and could only watch Michael closing in on me so it was both relief and delight to have this pole. I don't like to count my chickens but I'd like to think we can win here tomorrow.”
After a terrible start to life at Samsung Honda, Laverty has rediscovered the form that took him to the championship showdown in each of the last two years and the Ulsterman breathed a huge sigh of relief despite missing out on pole.
“The first three rounds have been horrendous for me so it is a big relief to be on the front row for the first time this season. We have got the bike working well and it is great to be back at the sharp end of the times. The races though will be tough, hard on tyres, and we are all on a similar pace but we will see what we can do.”
Tommy Hill will take a six point lead into tomorrow's races and felt he should've been on pole had it not been for mistakes on his hot lap. The Swan Yamaha rider feels optimistic that his race pace will give him the edge tomorrow.
“I knew it would be pretty tight out there as everyone has been so close and everyone is pushing hard. I tried to really push on in my final lap but I missed a couple of apexes and that was it, but the front row is always the aim so I am happy enough. Tomorrow will be a long, tough race and it will be a case of getting the best out of the tyres. Last year we came close to a win here but the new rules have made it a whole new game and we are confident of our pace. I am feeling good for tomorrow and aiming to get the Swan Yamaha back on the podium.”
WFR Honda had a magnificent day with Graeme Gowland and Alex Lowes fourth and fifth while Noriyuki Haga took the second Swan Yamaha to sixth. The two Rapid Solicitors Kawasakis complete the second row with Shane Byrne ahead of Stuart Easton.
2012 MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship
Round 4: Snetterton 300 (Qualifying Result)
| Pos | Rider | Bike | Team | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Josh Brookes |
Suzuki | Tyco Suzuki | 1:48.490 |
| 2 |  Michael Laverty |
Honda | Samsung Honda | +0.001 |
| 3 | Tommy Hill |
Yamaha | Swan Yamaha | +0.034 |
| 4 | Graeme Gowland |
Honda | Team WFR | +0.292 |
| 5 | Alex Lowes |
Honda | Team WFR | +0.362 |
| 6 |  Noriyuki Haga |
Yamaha | Swan Yamaha | +0.412 |
| 7 | Shane Byrne |
Kawasaki | Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki | +0.607 |
| 8 | Stuart Easton |
Kawasaki | Rapid Solicitors Kawasaki | +1.028 |
| 9 |  Luca Scassa |
Honda | Padgetts Racing | +1.117 |
| 10 | Tommy Bridewell |
BMW | Supersonic Racing Team | +6.273 |
| Eliminated In Q2 | ||||
| 11 | James Westmoreland |
Honda | Team WFR | 1:49.625 |
| 12 |  Patric Muff |
BMW | Supersonic Racing Team | 1:49.644 |
| 13 | Jon Kirkham |
Honda | Samsung Honda | 1:49.838 |
| 14 | Michael Rutter |
Kawasaki | MSS Bathams Kawasaki | 1:49.904 |
| 15 | Alastair Seeley |
Suzuki | Tyco Suzuki | 1:49.911 |
| 16 | Chris Walker |
Kawasaki | Pr1mo Bournemouth Kawasaki | 1:49.920 |
| 17 | Barry Burrell |
BMW | Buildbase BMW Motorrad | 1:50.099 |
| 18 | Luke Quigley |
Honda | GBmoto Racing | 1:50.750 |
| 19 | Ian Lowry |
Honda | Padgetts Racing | 1:58.053 |
| 20 | Dan Linfoot |
BMW | Buildbase BMW Motorrad | No Time |
| Eliminated In Q1 | ||||
| 21 | Tristan Palmer |
Honda | GBmoto Racing | 1:50.878 |
| 22 | Gary Mason |
Kawasaki | Quattro Plant Kawasaki | 1:51.218 |
| 23 | Scott Smart |
Ducati | Moto Rapido Racing | 1:51.496 |
| 24 | Aaron Zanotti |
Suzuki | A-Plant Suzuki | 1:52.011 |
| 25 | Alex Polita |
Ducati | Jentin Doodson Motorsport | 1:52.103 |
| 26 | John Laverty |
Aprilia | Splitlath Redmond Racing | 1:52.570 |
| 27 |  Florian Marino |
Aprilia | Splitlath Redmond Racing | 1:54.191 |
| 28 | Jenny Tinmouth |
Honda | Hardinge Sorrymate.com Honda | 1:54.486 |
| 29 |  Abdulaziz Binladin |
Ducati | Moto Rapido Racing | 1:55.197 |
| 30 | Tom Tunstall |
Ducati | Jentin Doodson Motorsport | 1:55.694 |
