Plater bags pole at Thruxton.

Steve Plater will start tomorrow's twenty-lap Superbike races from pole position on the grid, after topping the qualifying timesheets for the first time in his British Superbike career.

Michael Rutter joins his team-mate on the front row after qualifying fourth fastest, on a day that saw Team Kawasaki dominant in both practice and qualifying sessions.

Plater bags pole at Thruxton.

Steve Plater will start tomorrow's twenty-lap Superbike races from pole position on the grid, after topping the qualifying timesheets for the first time in his British Superbike career.

Michael Rutter joins his team-mate on the front row after qualifying fourth fastest, on a day that saw Team Kawasaki dominant in both practice and qualifying sessions.

Plater started the day by setting the fastest time during free practice but, in a wet first qualifying session, it was team-mate Rutter who took provisional pole - with over a second in hand over his closest rival.

With the rain receding during the lunch break, the second qualifying session was held in glorious sunshine. Rutter was the first to put his Kawasaki on the front row of the grid but, with just four minutes of the session left to run, Plater jumped from eighth to pole, with an inch-perfect flying lap on the factory Kawasaki ZX-7RR.

"Absolutely brilliant," said Steve Plater, when asked what it felt like to be on pole for the first time in his British Superbike career. "It's great to get pole in only my second meeting back from injury but, while qualifying is important, it's the race results that count. I want to be up there battling with the Championship leaders in the races, not just in qualifying, and that's exactly what I'll be aiming to do tomorrow."

Behind Plater, Steve Hislop claimed second on the grid with championship rival John Reynolds third and Rutter fourth.

Michael Rutter may be renown as a wet weather wizard, but the former Grand Prix rider was happy to see the good weather return for the second qualifying session.

"Although I was over a second quicker than anyone else in the wet, I'm really glad it was dry this afternoon," said Michael Rutter. "We've now got a good race set-up for both wet and dry conditions so, regardless of the weather tomorrow, we'll be in good shape. I'll be looking to make the most of my front row start and, if everything goes according to plan, there's every chance of me finishing on the podium tomorrow"

"I think it's fair to say that the team have dominated practice and qualifying here today," said Team Manager, Simon Buckmaster. "With a Team Kawasaki rider topping the time sheets after every session, it came as no surprise when Steve pulled a flying lap out of the bag to take a career first British Superbike pole. With Michael also on the front row of the grid, I'm confident that both riders will be challenging for a podium finish in both races tomorrow."

Full times to follow...

Read More