Billy McConnell emphatically romped to his, and Virgin Media Yamaha's, first British Supersport pole position at round three of the British Supersport Championship today, 28 April, at Silverstone International circuit. With fourteen minutes left on the clock, Billy slotted in a Pirelli rear qualifier to his Yamaha YZF-R6, and instantly posted a superb time of 1:28.219. Despite a late surge from Dennis Hobbs and Martin Jessopp, Billy's time held firm to land pole for Sunday's race by almost half a second.
Virgin Media Yamaha Supersport teen sensation, Tom Grant's luck appeared to be going from bad to worse during the morning qualifying session. The victim of a crash on the penultimate lap at Thruxton, Tom crashed on the way into Maggots, and chipped a bone in his right ankle. However, the 18-year showed true grit and was passed fit to take to the circuit for the second qualifying session. His time of 1:30.021 from the morning was still good enough to give Tom a second row start for tomorrow's 18-lap race.
Billy McConnell:"I'm really happy, I just got pole position for the first time in British Supersport. It's happy emotions all round and the team have worked really hard. I just want to turn it into a good race result now."
Tom Grant: "After running in the top two all weekend I'm obviously gutted that I've only qualified 8th after my crash this morning. You have to take the highs with the lows though and I know that I can run up their at the front. My ankle is pretty sore at the moment but after a night's rest I'm sure it will feel much better tomorrow."
British SuperbikesA red flag stoppage eleven minutes from the close of qualifying denied Tommy Hill his second pole position in as many races, at Silverstone today, 28 April. Quickest in the first two sectors, Tommy's lap was cruelly scrubbed from the timing sheets as Tristan Palmer and Marty Nutt's separate crashes led to today's Bennetts British Superbike qualifying session being red-flagged.
As a result, Tommy's Pirelli qualifying tyre was made redundant, leaving the Lingfield-based rider languishing down at the back of the third row.
Team-mate James Haydon lines up on the fifth row of the 28-strong grid for tomorrow's two 20-lap races around the 2.213-mile Silverstone International circuit.
Tommy Hill:"I feel really frustrated. Early in the session I was riding round some problems and had a silly little off. Back on the bike I was right up there again. I've been running in the top 4 all weekend. With a qualifier in I was on a really hot lap, my second sector was pole pace then the red flag came up and I had to abandon it. I know I'm fast here and just need to reflect that in the race."
James Haydon:"I won my first British Championship race in 250's here, and also my first Superbike race, so I'm looking forward to Sunday. We've been working hard to get the bike right for me and it looks like we're succeeding. I hope I can reward all the hard work come tomorrow."
Virgin Media CupJames Webb made a dramatic return to the championship where he gained a third place at the end of the 2006 season. Despite missing the first two rounds, Webb quickly made up for lost time by heading the timing sheets for the majority of the free practice session on Saturday morning.
Qualifying saw plenty of activity with James being collected by another falling rider and damaging his exhaust, a quick pit-stop was not enough to solve the problem so a change of bike was necessary.
Doncaster-based rider, Dean Hipwell took early control, and looked to be heading towards his first pole of the season. However, with less than three minutes to go, James Webb stunned his fellow competitors by posting the fastest ever Virgin Media Cup lap of Silverstone, with a blistering 1:33.904, to secure pole. James will be hoping to repeat his performance of last season, where he stood on the top step of the podium at the Northamptonshire circuit.
Championship leader BJ Toal lines up next to rival Webb, with Dean Hipwell and Midge Smart completing the front row.
James Webb:"It was really good, apart from being collected by another rider it all went according to plan. I got on the spare bike and just rode as well as I could to get pole. I'm chuffed to be back in the series, it's a great championship, I just need to keep up putting in good results to make up missing the first two rounds."
Niall Mackenzie, Cup Mentor:"It's great to have James back in the Cup, he'll add another dimension to the front runners. Once again, the Virgin Media Cup is proving to be a breath-taking spectacle."
Rob McElnea, Team Principal: "We are over the moon with Billy's pole position. The Supersport guys have again, been up there all weekend. Tom's had some bad luck again but to qualify on the second row still is pretty impressive considering his injury. Tommy's Superbike qualifying doesn't reflect his performance this weekend, he's been 2nd and 4th all the way through practice. Unfortunately he fell victim to the red flag in qualifying, he was on a pole pace lap when it was stopped. Let's see what happens tomorrow when we get into the racing."
ITV1 broadcast window, 14:35 - 16:05 Sunday 29 April
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