Spaniard takes BSB pole in Scotland!

British Superbike

The Datatag BSB Superbike Qualifying was initially delayed due to heavy rain, which resulted in one 40-minute session at the Scottish circuit, and after a huge duel at the top of the times it was Forés who held the advantage by 0.135s at the chequered flag to become the first Spanish rider to claim pole position since 2007 in Bennetts BSB, and Honda Racing’s first pole position since 2017.

Xavi Fores – Pole

“I’m so, so happy with my first pole position in BSB and especially in those conditions, I honestly didn’t expect to do it in wet conditions on a track I have not rode in the wet before. After the first two laps I had a good feeling with the Fireblade and this was the key to be consistent with the laps and to improve lap-by-lap. I was pushing in order to find the limit with the bike and it’s just working so well in these conditions. We made some big improvements from Brands when we raced in the wet and it paid off today! Hopefully tomorrow we will enjoy our racing, even if it is dry, but we have a good set-up with the machine and starting from the front row it will be interesting! But we will defend our position in order to get good points for the championship!”

Forés had been dicing with Farmer at the top of the times and he was second fastest on the times, but the Tyco BMW rider crashed exiting turn three in the closing ten minutes of the session, he became tangled with his machine. Following transfer to the medical centre Farmer was diagnosed with and treated for bilateral fractures of both lower legs and was transferred to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary for further assessment and treatment.

Danny Buchan made it three different manufacturers in the top three as the FS3-Racing Kawasaki rider completed the front row; maintaining a position inside the top five for the majority of the session as he bids to repeat his double podium finish from 2018 at Knockhill.

Tarran Mackenzie narrowly missed out on the front row in Datatag Qualifying, but climbed the order to head row two for McAMS Yamaha ahead of Andrew Irwin, who had hit the top of the times on multiple occasions during the extended session.

Christian Iddon completed row two for Tyco BMW ahead of Luke Stapleford on the leading Suzuki and Jason O’Halloran with Ben Currie having a strong performance on his return in ninth for Quattro Plant – JG Speedfit Kawasaki.

Championship leader Tommy Bridewell was tenth fastest and the leading Ducati as the Be Wiser Ducati pairing Josh Brookes and Scott Redding ended the wet session in 15th and 16th respectively.

Bennetts British Superbike Championship
Knockhill, Datatag Qualifying result

1. Xavi Forés (Honda Racing) 51.557s
2. Keith Farmer (Tyco BMW) +0.135s
3. Danny Buchan (FS3-Racing Kawasaki) +0.135s
4. Tarran Mackenzie (McAMS Yamaha) +0.166s
5. Andrew Irwin (Honda Racing) +0.210s
6. Christian Iddon (Tyco BMW) +0.489s
7. Luke Stapleford (Buildbase Suzuki) +0.737s
8. Jason O’Halloran (McAMS Yamaha) +0.799s
9. Ben Currie (Quattro Plant – JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.801s

British Supersport Qualifying

Integro Yamaha’s Jack Kennedy has collected his fifth pole position on the bounce in the 2019 Dickies British Supersport Championship at Knockhill, with Kyle Ryde and Brad Jones joining him on the front row.

It was Kennedy who started the session the strongest, leading the way at the top of the time sheets after posting a strong time early on.

The defending Champion continued to improve on his time, pulling a heathy gap over second place, making sure he secured his fifth pole position of the year.

Kyle Ryde will start from second on the grid after nicking it from Brad Jones in the dying moments of the session.

Row two will see Jamie Perrin start from fourth with local lad Rory Skinner fifth and Championship leader Seeley rounding out the second line in sixth.

British Superstock 1000

Buildbase Suzuki’s Richard Cooper notched up his eighth victory of the season, coming back from third, to extend his Championship lead over Taylor Mackenzie at Knockhill.

Just minutes before the start of the race drops of rain began to fall, but not enough for the riders to change tyres and set-ups on the grid.

From the lights it was Cooper who grabbed the holeshot, but the end of the opening lap Mackenzie led from Rouse with the Championship leader Cooper in third.

By half-race distance Cooper had caught Mackenzie, who had cleared off at the front, in the process setting a new lap record. It only took ‘Coopes’ a lap to pass the Bathams Racing BMW man and he quickly cleared off.

The Nottinghamshire man controlled the lead until the flag, taking his eighth victory of the season, with Mackenzie and Rouse rounding out the podium.

British Superstock 600 Qualifying