Cal Crutchlow has taken his second Bennetts British Superbike pole position of the season after a mighty effort in qualifying for the seventh round of the season at
Oulton Park.
Matching his pole winning effort at the Cheshire circuit earlier this year, Crutchlow showed an impressive turn of pace over the course of the 50 minute session to come away with a three tenth advantage over championship leader Shane Byrne.
Having set himself the target of a double win this weekend as he makes a last gasp bid to close down Byrne, Crutchlow will at least be hoping to avoid the falls he suffered last time he started from pole position at Oulton Park.
An exciting session that started off damp before drying out completely long before the end of the session, the windy weather replaced the rain as the significant factor affecting the riders.
Nonetheless, despite not venturing out onto circuit in third free practice, Friday pace setter Karl Harris was proving quick again as he swept to the top of the leaderboard in the early stages.
He would be usurped by Crutchlow close to the half way point, although the HM Plant Honda rider would himself be beaten by Tom Sykes ever so briefly with 17 minutes remaining. Crutchlow would respond decisively just two minutes later to take over the top spot and remain there to the chequered flag.
Byrne left it late before popping up to second place at the expense of Sykes, who nonetheless recorded another comfortable front row grid slot on the Rizla Suzuki. Leon Haslam completes the front row after squeezing in front of Harris, the Yamaha rider slightly disappointed not to capitalise on his searing pace from yesterday.
Simon Andrews geared up for his World Superbike bow with a strong run to sixth, the Lloyds Jentin Yamaha rider running as high as fourth before Byrne and Haslam climbed back past.
Mallory winner Michael Rutter will start seventh, ahead of James Ellison, the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda rider running high early on before eventually slipping to a spot on the wrong side of the second row.
