Shane Byrne proved to be the man for all conditions as he powered comfortably clear of the pack in the rain-lashed grid decider to take his third pole start of the season ahead of the fourth round of the Bennetts British Superbike Championship at Donington Park.
The Airwaves Ducati rider had earlier run strongly in the dry free practice sessions but in a dramatic, incident packed Swan Combi 50 Roll for Pole session the series leader saved the best for last.
Byrne had overcome the challenge of MSS Discover Kawasaki rider Billy McConnell with a time that was seemingly good enough to ensure top spot on the leaderboard but he had not reckoned on the determined ride from his long standing rival Michael Rutter aboard the North West 200 Ducati.
The West Midlands rider had won the first race of the re-launched series back in 1995, on a similarly rain soaked Leicestershire grand prix circuit, and he put in flyer that was to fully test the skills of Byrne.
He was back on track and within six minutes had re-asserted himself, reflecting on his pole setting lap of 1m 46.639secs with a smile: “I though to myself I can’t have an old chap like the ‘Blade’ Rutter ahead of me, so I went back out there for the last few minutes and put a fast one in.
“By then the track seemed to be a bit drier and I was able to put in a good lap, there seemed to be a bit more grip, and that was enough to give me pole. Now I’m not bothered what the weather throws at me during the races. I am ready and waiting, and I mean business,” said Byrne.
He has won four of the six races so far, opening up a lead of 44 points over HM Plant Honda rider Cal Crutchlow, the only rider to beat Byrne so far. He qualified fourth fastest with a lap in 1m 48.265secs, ensuring a front row start that is crucial to him making inroads into the advantage held by Byrne.
James Ellison, who had slid off at Coppice early on in the session, hit back strongly to put his Hydrex Bike Animal Honda alongside Byrne, though a second down on him, with Rutter having to settle for third best.
Michael Laverty put in a late charge, having languished outside the top twenty into the final minutes, putting his Relentless Suzuki at the head of the second row, with Scott Smart, a winner in the wet here two years ago, qualifying his Hawk Kawasaki sixth ahead of Leon Haslam.
The Honda rider missed out on the chance of improving that starting slot as he slid out at the end of the session but he was still ahead of Leon Camier on the second Airwaves bike.
Gary Mason, making his Superbike return after two years absence in the Daily Star Cup, ran his Quay Garage Honda fastest in that category with a best lap of 1m 49.250secs, enough to be ahead of Rob Mac Yamaha rider Karl Harris and McConnell who each slid out twice.
Chris Burns was second in the listing of Daily Star Cup qualifiers with series leader John Laverty third on the Buildbase NW200 Ducati, though a second down on Mason.
Bennetts British Superbike Championship, top 10 qualifiers:1. Shane Byrne (Airwaves Ducati) 1m:46.639s
2. James Ellison (Hydrex Bike Animal Honda) +1.048s
3. Michael Rutter (North West 200 Ducati) +1.462s
4. Cal Crutchlow (HM Plant Honda) +1.626s
5. Michael Laverty (Relentless Suzuki by TAS) +1.628s
6. Scott Smart (Hawk Kawasaki) +1.960s
7. Leon Haslam (HM Plant Honda) +2.190s
8. Leon Camier (Airwaves Ducati) +2.384s
9. Gary Mason (Quay Garage Honda) +2.611s
10. Karl Harris (Rob Mac Racing Yamaha) +2.690s
Superbikes on track:
Monday 26th May09.15-09.30 Warm-up practice
13.00 Race one – 20 laps
15.30 Race two – 20 laps
