Rutter on Croft pole

Michael Rutter has taken his HM Plant Honda to its third pole of the season at the Croft round of the World Superbike championship.

Rutter just managed to hold off Kawasaki rider Dean Thomas by 0.004 seconds, finishing with a record setting lap of 1:20.624.

Young Red Bull Honda rider Johnathan Rea took a surprise third place with Rutter’s team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari finishing the front row of the grid.

Honda UK rider Karl Harris took fifth followed by Glen Richards Leon Haslam and Michael Laverty.

Haslam’s team-mate Gregorio Lavilla struggled with the circuit qualifying in 13th place while John Reynolds sits in 16th in his return from injury, one place behind his team-mate Scott Smart.

Official BSB qualifying positions:

1 Michael RUTTER 1:20.624

2 Dean THOMAS 1:20.628

3 Jonathan REA 1:20.904

4 Ryuichi KIYONARI 1:20.954

5 Karl HARRIS 1:21.157

6 Glen RICHARDS 1:21.452

7 Leon HASLAM 1:21.520

8 Michael LAVERTY 1:21.571

9 Steve PLATER 1:21.619

10 James BUCKINGHAM 1:21.624

11 Kieran CLARKE 1:21.698

12 James HAYDON 1:21.700

13 Gregorio LAVILLA 1:21.753

14 Tommy HILL 1:21.756

15 Scott SMART 1:21.954

16 John REYNOLDS 1:22.003

17 Gary MASON 1:22.065

18 Marty NUTT 1:22.331

19 Jon KIRKHAM 1:22.332

20 Danny BEAUMONT 1:22.551

21 Ben WILSON 1:22.687

22 John LAVERTY 1:22.917

23 Chris MARTIN 1:23.094

24 Steve BROGAN 1:23.139

25 Dean ELLISON 1:23.581

26 Richard WREN 1:23.778

27 Marshall NEILL 1:24.066

28 Tristan PALMER 1:24.199

29 Nick MEDD 1:24.249

30 Sheridan MORAIS 1:24.413

31 Gareth GLYNN 1:24.787

32 Malcolm ASHLEY 1:24.789

33 Luke QUIGLEY 1:24.921

34 Michael PENSAVALLE 1:24.939