McGuinness on pace for the race.

Hawk Kawasaki stand-in John McGuinness will start tomorrow's two BSB races at Brands Hatch from ninth on the grid after putting on a determined performance in second qualifying. Despite not having competed in BSB for 12 months the 29 year-old Lancastrian's best lap around the 2.608 mile GP circuit was just 1.2 seconds off pole.

Hawk Kawasaki stand-in John McGuinness will start tomorrow's two BSB races at Brands Hatch from ninth on the grid after putting on a determined performance in second qualifying. Despite not having competed in BSB for 12 months the 29 year-old Lancastrian's best lap around the 2.608 mile GP circuit was just 1.2 seconds off pole.

The pressure was on in the second 50 minute session after a 10 minute stoppage, imposed after Yamaha's Kieran Clarke crashed heavily on the start/finish straight, which allowed threatening clouds to move over the track. McGuinness held his cool, however, and even out-paced his race winning team-mate Scott Smart.

"I'd have liked to have been on the front two rows, but to be in the top 10 on my first time out, especially against WSB guys like Haga, is mega," said John. "I've found a pretty good race set-up this morning so we just chucked in some qualifiers and went for it. I messed up a bit on my last flying lap, which would have been my best, when I missed an apex at Druids which maybe cost me a few tenths. There are some of the best riders in the world out there so, yeah, I'm pleased. I'm definitely up for it tomorrow, although I'm not sure what to expect. I'll try and get a good start and then get stuck in because I don't think my race pace will be too far away."

Scott Smart qualified twelfth in the second session, after his efforts to break into the top eight were thwarted by a 100mph crash at Paddock Hill bend which wrecked his number one bike. Fortunately he was uninjured and rejoined the session on his number two bike.

"I've struggled here this weekend and nothing's quite gone to plan, plus I really could have done without that crash," explained Scott. "I missed a gear, never got it hooked back in and went flying into the gravel at 100mph. I hit the bails which spun me round and I whacked my head on the ground. I'm going to have to sit down with the boys and work out where we can find the extra speed we need for tomorrow because I'm looking for top sixes at least because that's the lowest I've finished all year."

"I think Scott has expected too much from himself this weekend and that's made it hard work for him," said Hawk Kawasaki Team Principal Stuart Hicken after qualifying. "I'm quite happy where we've qualified because race day is totally different and we'll have good set-ups on the bikes again. John's been excellent today. I know he's disappointed in himself for not making the front two rows, but these guys have been at it all season and he's just come from the Isle of Man and this is his first meeting so I'm very pleased with him."

Read More