BSB Snetterton 300: Hopkins takes first pole position

John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) took his first BSB pole with the fastest ever lap of the Snetterton 300 in the last three minutes of the final qualifying session.

Swan Yamaha rider Tommy Hill couldn’t better Hopkins’ time, finishing the session to qualify in second ahead of Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) and Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) who complete the front row in third and fourth.

Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) will start tomorrow’s race from fifth, whilst championship leader Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) set the fastest time in the second qualifying session before suffering problems with this rear tyre in the third session, forcing him to retire and rendering him unable to improve on sixth place.

Motorpoint Yamaha rider James Westmoreland qualified seventh and Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) completes the second row in eighth. Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing) and Alex Lowes (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) qualified ninth and tenth respectively.

1. John Hopkins (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki)  1:47.451
2. Tommy Hill (Swan Yamaha) 1:47.996  +0.545s
3. Jon Kirkham (Samsung Crescent Racing Suzuki) 1:48.320  +0.869s
4. Josh Brookes (Relentless Suzuki) 1:48.457  +1.006s
5. Loris Baz (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1:48.814  +1.363s
6. Shane Byrne (HM Plant Honda) 1:48.928  +1.477s
7. James Westmoreland (Motorpoint Yamaha) 1:49.023  +1.572s
8. Ryuichi Kiyonari (HM Plant Honda) 1:49.156  +1.705s
9. Chris Walker (Pr1mo Racing Kawasaki) 1:49.225  +1.774s
10. Alex Lowes (MSS Colchester Kawasaki) 1:49.768  +2.317s