Brookes on pole as BSB Showdown contenders falter

Full BSB qualifying results at Oulton Park

Josh Brookes has used his practice pace to grab pole position at Oulton Park, while the Bennetts British Superbike Showdown contenders struggled in qualifying which has shaken up the grid for Race 1.

The Be Wiser Ducati rider steered clear of trouble to produce a 1m 33.939s in Q3 to secure pole position by fending off a late lap from Tommy Bridewell on the Oxford Racing Ducati.

Scott Redding completes the front row for Be Wiser Ducati which sees all three riders who have already booked their BSB Showdown spots starting at the head of the grid.

But for the BSB Showdown contenders it was far from straightforward with Danny Buchan suffering the worst crashing on oil dropped by Ryan Vickers’ RAF Regular and Reserves Kawasaki in the opening minutes of Q1 which ruled out the FS-3 Racing Kawasaki rider.

The drama in Q1 continued with Tarran Mackenzie crashing out late on. The McAMS Yamaha rider’s earlier time was enough to progress into Q2 but with his bike badly damaged he could not set a lap time in the second session meaning he’ll start down the order.

Mackenzie will start alongside fellow BSB Showdown fighter Xavi Fores on the Honda who struggled in Q2.

Despite making it into Q3, Christian Iddon crashed at Turn 3 on his opening flying lap leaving him unable to set at time in the pole position shootout.

Andrew Irwin was unable to profit from his rivals’ mistakes given his grid penalty for colliding with Scott Redding in Race 2 at Cadwell Park last time out. The Honda rider qualified in eighth place but will start form the back of the grid due to his penalty.

As a result, Peter Hickman is the highest-qualifying BSB Showdown candidate in seventh place for Smiths Racing BMW with Iddon eighth, Fores 16^th, Mackenzie 17^th, Buchan 23^rd and Irwin 25^th.