The Airwaves Ducati rider will start Sunday's races from pole position, having topped the qualifying leaderboard ahead of the snow aborted opening round last month, and that position has been carried forward to this 'round one - take two.'
Byrne took pole with a time of 1min 25.832secs in April and he was back on top of the timesheets during Saturday's pair of free practiced sessions at the sun-drenched Kent grand prix circuit, with a best lap of 1min 27.158secs.
Team-mate Leon Camier came closest to Byrne in the afternoon session, but both Shakey and HM Plant Honda's Leon Haslam set their best lap times during the morning session - when Byrne lapped 0.159secs quicker than Haslam, who will start from third on the grid on Sunday (following the withdraw of Karl Harris).
Haslam is playing catch-up in the title stakes, having effectively had two non-finishes in the four races so far to be a massive 62 points down on Byrne in the standings.
Byrne meanwhile remains confident: "I'm really happy – the team around me is doing a great job and I have the easy job of riding the bike. Doing the double last time out at Oulton Park was good, and I will be trying hard for the same here.
"It is too early to start thinking about the championship," added Byrne who leads the chase 95-56 over team-mate Camier. "It is a case of concentrating on things race by race, trying to win as many as I can, enjoying the racing and being on the podium as frequently as possible."
Crutchlow, who will line up between team-mate Haslam and Byrne on the grid, is keen to make up lost ground after crashing heavily in the Holiday Monday round at
Oulton Park, dislocating his right ankle and also damaging ligaments.
"It felt uncomfortable out there, really sore but I am giving it my all. Being able to ride is a bonus - I'm here to ride, I'm here to win, and I am confident that I can be at the front," said the 22 year old Coventry rider who despite his discomfort was barely three quarters of a second down on Byrne.
Sunday's front row will be completed by Rizla Suzuki rider Tom Sykes, with Camier heading the second row ahead of Simon Andrews on the Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha, North West 200 Ducati rider Michael Rutter and Japanese ace Atsushi Watanabe.
James Buckingham, riding the Quay Garage Honda, heads the qualifying for the Daily Star Cup race within a race, a split second ahead of series leading John Laverty, who took a tumble from his BuildbaseNW200 Ducati, without injury, during the second free practice session.
