Tom Sykes starts the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park from pole position after putting in a last minute charge to head off the challenge of Michael Laverty in the Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole session. The Rizla Suzuki rider had been on the pace throughout the session, despite having to switch to his spare machine because of a technical problem mid-way through but not even that was going to deny him topping the qualifying leaderboard for the first time this season. “It was a shame about the bike it was coming together very easy. We had made some good changes and I was very comfortable with it,” said Sykes. “I had to change my style and make it all happen when I switched to the second bike but it was all good fun.” The 22 year old Huddersfield rider put in a 56.005secs, 90.63mph lap of the 1.41 mile Leicestershire circuit. “I’m happy enough with that but would have liked to have opened up a bigger gap at the top. It will be a tough race, but I’ve been putting in consistent times and hope for a good one.” Relentless Suzuki rider Laverty was denied his first pole start by just a tenth of a second, but his lap of 56.109secs edged the runaway series leader and former champion Shane Byrne into third place with his Airwaves Ducati running a split second up on local rider Cal Crutchlow. His pace eased Leon Haslam, aboard the second HM Plant Honda, back onto the second row, fifth fastest, ahead of North West 200 Ducati’s Michael Rutter with Karl Harris, riding the Rob Mac Racing Yamaha, and Tena for Men Honda riding Tristan Palmer. John Laverty, the leader of the Daily Star Cup, a race within the main championship action for Independent team, was ninth fastest overall with a time of 56.534secs aboard the Buildbase NW200 Ducati, running ahead of Aussie Billy McConnell who slid off his MSS Discovery Kawasaki at the Hairpin, but quickly re-mounted, to be in front of second in the title stakes Leon Camier and twice Japanese champion Atsushi Watanabe. Simon Andrews put his Lloyds British Jentin Yamaha onto the fourth row, with a lap of 56.776secs, just ahead of Hawk Kawasaki’s Scott Smart, James Ellison aboard the Hydrex Bike Animal Honda and Gary Mason, the second fastest of the Cup riders on the Quay Garage Honda. James Haydon, making his seasonal first appearance with the MSS Discovery Kawasaki team in place of their injured Stuart Easton, starts from the fifth row, as does Sean Emmett on his first ride with SMT Honda. Top ten qualifying times: 1. Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 56.005s 2. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +0.104s 3. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) +0.122s 4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +0.130s 5. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +0.229s 6. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +0.331s 7. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +0.430s 8. Tristan Palmer (TENA for Men Honda) +0.489s 9. John Laverty (Buildbase NW200 Ducati) +0.529s 10. Billy McConnell (MSS Discovery Kawasaki) +0.530s More, from a press release issued by GSE Racing/Airwaves Ducati: FRONT ROW START FOR SHAKEY Airwaves Ducati’s Shane Byrne will start from 3rd on the grid for round 6 of the British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park tomorrow. Leon Camier will start from the 3rd row in 11th. Shane held pole position a number of times throughout the 50 minute qualifying session and with 17 minutes remaining he recorded his best time of 56.127 to re-take the top spot, only to be pushed down into 3rd in the closing minutes. Leon fought hard throughout qualifying, with his fastest time of 56.540 coming on lap 30 of 37 to place him 11th. Leon was disappointed with his performance saying; “I am gutted that I did not do better in qualifying today, I just couldn’t seem to find my rhythm; but I am pleased with my race pace. Starting from the 3rd row isn’t ideal at any circuit and here it will be very tricky getting to the front so I must be realistic about my chances, I will be aiming for decent championship points rather than podium places.” Shane Byrne commented; “It was a difficult session this afternoon but I am pleased with the lap time that I achieved. The first Pirelli tyre I went out on was great and I wasn’t sure I could improve as I was maxed out the whole way round the circuit. I was on pole position when Laverty knocked me off the top spot so I went back out on my final tyre but I pushed too hard and I went straight on at the first corner. I pulled myself together again and managed to get one more flying lap in but it wasn’t to be. We’ll look at a few things tonight but I am confident we have a fantastic package for the race and that will carry us through to a good result.” The two 30 lap Bennetts British Superbike races are tomorrow, Sunday June 29th, at 13.15pm and 16.20pm. Qualifying Result 1. Tom Sykes Rizla Suzuki 55.005 2. Michael Laverty Relentless Suzuki 56.109 3. Shane Byrne Airwaves Ducati 56.127 4. Cal Crutchlow HM Plant Honda 56.135 5. Leon Haslam HM Plant Honda 56.234 6. Michael Rutter North West 200 Ducati 56.336 7. Karl Harris Team Yamaha 56.435 8. Tristan Palmer Tena for Men Honda 56.494 9. John Laverty Buildbase NW200 Ducati 56.534 10. Billy McConnell MSS Discovery Kawasaki 56.535 11. Leon Camier Airwaves Ducati 56.540 More, from a press release issued by Team Suzuki News Service: Tom Sykes took his first pole position for Rizla Suzuki at the sixth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Mallory Park today and has vowed he can go even faster. The Yorkshire ace had been in contention during every practice session and put on a domineering performance in qualification: He led from the start and even a mid-session switch to his spare bike didn’t upset his composure as he continued to go faster, securing pole position with only moments left on the clock. Rizla Suzuki’s double Japanese Superbike Champion Atsushi Watanabe showed an impressive turn of pace on his first visit to the twisty and short 1.41-mile Leicestershire circuit, ending up 12th on the grid and less than three-quarters-of-a-second away from his team mate in pole position. Superbike racing starts at 1315 tomorrow, Sunday June 29th, at Mallory Park near Leicester. Tom Sykes: “I came round with two minutes to go in qualifying and my dash told me I recorded a 56.2s lap. I was so close to pole I decided to get my head down and go for it. I had to try hard but a pole is a pole and I am delighted. “I could have gone even quicker; a 55-second lap was possible but my spare bike was backing in and we didn’t have time to dial in new settings so I wasn’t quite able to go as fast as I wanted. The good news is that we can go faster with my number one Rizla Suzuki and that’ll be ready for tomorrow, so bring on the racing. Thank you to my Rizla Suzuki team for all its support and help, my GSX-R1000 is fantastic.” Atsushi Watanabe: “Mallory Park is very short, twisty and physical track. It is strange but like it. I am disappointed with 12th place but I feel maybe this is not so bad given my first visit here. “We still make small changes to my Rizla Suzuki for better feel and performance and maybe just little bit more will mean I can compete well in the races. It will not be easy but I forward look to top 10 results!” Jack Valentine – Rizla Suzuki Team Manager: “That was simply awesome; there is no other way to describe it. Tom was mega on his spare bike and took pole position emphatically. He would have been even further ahead of the field if his number one bike had been available but an intermittent fault meant it wasn’t available – although it will be tomorrow when Rizla Suzuki and Tom Sykes will be competing for a long over-due victory. “Atsu has impressed this weekend. He has brought a more aggressive and determined approach to his riding and at a circuit that was always going to be difficult to learn he is ahead of a lot of good riders with much more circuit experience. He is starting to show his teeth and will be determined to get into the top 10 tomorrow. “Well done to the entire Rizla Suzuki team for all of their hard work. Well done also to Michael Laverty who qualified in second and that makes it a one-two on the grid for Suzuki.” Qualifying results: 1: Tom Sykes (Rizla Suzuki) 56.005 2: Michael Laverty (Suzuki) +0.104 3: Shane Byrne (Ducati) +0.122 4: Cal Crutchlow (Honda) +0.130 5: Leon Haslam (Honda) +0.229 6: Michael Rutter (Ducati) +0.331 7: Karl Harris (Yamaha) +0.430 8: Tristan Palmer (Honda) +0.489 9: John Laverty (Ducati) +0.529 10: Billy McConnell (Kawasaki) +0.530 12: Atsushi Watanabe (Rizla Suzuki) +0.731.