From a press release issued by Honda UK:

FORET LEADS HONDA TOP THREE AT SILVERSTONE

Honda’s Fabien Foret continued his challenge for the World Supersport championship title by setting the fastest time in Friday’s opening
qualifying session for the British round at Silverstone.

Frenchman Foret ­ second in the championship, just four points off the series lead ­ continued his run of form after winning round five of the
championship at Monza, Italy two weeks ago.

Foret, riding for the Dutch Ten Kate team, led a Honda top three as talented Australian youngster Chris Vermeulen was second quickest on the van Zon
CBR600 with Honda UK team rider Karl Muggeridge third after topping the leaderboard for much of the 45-minute session.

Muggeridge said: “I had a good session. It’s the first time at this circuit for everyone and I really like the place. We¹re getting the machine dialled in and Pirelli are confident about providing the race tyres to win.”

Katsuaki Fujiwara was fourth fastest to complete the provisional front row for Sunday’s 19-lap race. The session ended with two minutes to go as a heavy shower hit the 3.16-mile circuit.

Scotsman Iain MacPherson, riding alongside Foret in the Ten Kate Honda team, was fifth fastest with BKM Honda’s Christophe Cogan sixth.

Friday¹s World Supersport qualifying times: 1. Fabien Foret, France (Honda), 1:52.259; 2. Chris Vermeulen, Australia (Honda), 1:52.462: 3. Karl
Muggeridge, Australia (Honda), 1:52.926; 4. Katsuaki Fujiwara, Japan, (Suzuki), 1:53.091; 5. Iain MacPherson, GB (Honda), 1:53.135; 6. Christophe Cogan, France (Honda), 1:53.467; 7. Paolo Casoli, Italy (Yamaha), 1:53.504;
8. Christian Kellner, Germany (Yamaha), 1:53.556; 9. Stephane Chambon, France (Suzuki), 1:53.667; 10. Werner Daemen, Belgium (Honda), 1:53.798.


More, from a press release issued by Team Ten Kate:

Foret battles through wind and rain to provisional pole

Fabien Foret put his Ten Kate Honda onto provisional pole despite gusting wind and a rain squall that brought the first Supersport qualifying session to a premature end today.

Heavy rain had fallen throughout the night but the track dried before the World Supersport riders took to the Silverstone tarmac for the first timed qualifying session. Although the rain held off until the closing moments, the wind was gusting strongly, making life difficult for the riders around the former aerodrome.

“I’m happy with pole, naturally,” smiled Foret, winner at Monza two weeks ago. “But it was difficult in those conditions. But now if it rains for tomorrow¹s practice, I’ll stay on pole, but if it’s dry, then I know I can
go faster as we’ve some more progress to make in chassis set up. The WP Suspension guys are working really hard to perfect the set up. The problem here is bumps, the F1 cars really ripple up the surface and many of the corner exits are very bumpy. But it’s a challenge that I’m confident our technicians and the WP Suspension guys can rise to.”

His team mate Iain MacPherson finished fifth fastest, continuing to improve as he gets his riding style adapted to the Ten Kate Honda. “I think I could have gone faster still,” said MacPherson, “but I didn’t get a clear lap with
my best qualifying tyre on, then the rain came before I got back out again.”

Team Manager Ronald ten Kate was smiling again, “It seems we have lots to be happy about nowadays,” beamed ten Kate. “Coming straight from a win at the last round, and now here in first qualifying, we have four Ten Kate Honda’s in the top ten, with two on the provisional front row.

“Iain MacPherson has really benefited from the Misano test last week,” continued ten Kate, “he’s made some changes to the bike’s set up to suit his riding style and it’s definitely working. Even if it rains for the race we’ll be strong, Pirelli have provided us with some excellent wet weather tyres.”