Hill on pole for Cheshire chase

Added on Sunday, May 2nd, 2010 by Carole Nash Editor

Tommy Hill secured the fastest time in today’s Swan Combi Roll Pole, to take pole position ahead of tomorrow’s Oulton Park double header.

After Stuart Easton set the pace for much of the session, Hill lunged around the Cheshire-based circuit in the dying moments to steal provisional pole position away from him. Easton has been on form all weekend so far, dominating all three of the earlier free practice sessions, however he was unable to hold onto the ever important pole position.

Despite just losing out to Hill, Easton will start tomorrow’s Bank Holiday opener from second place, just 0.394s adrift. Hill was keen to recover after crashing out at the Clay Hill section of the circuit in free practice yesterday (Saturday), so a pole position was just the ticket. He told the BSB website: “I am over the moon, as I messed up one of my laps and didn’t want to settle for it so I just went out there and put another lap in. To be totally fair it has been a tough weekend so far but the Worx Crescent Suzuki boys have worked hard especially after my crash, but I just need to keep chipping away and keep my championship lead tomorrow.”

With the top two positions taken care of it was Michael Rutter who was next up, riding his Ridersmotorcycles.com Ducati to a third place start, while Josh Brookes will start fourth. After taking his first British Superbike victory last time out at Thruxton, Brookes will be eager to repeat the performance.

Alastair Seeley will start from fifth place, with Ryuichi Kiyonari sixth, Yukio Kagayama seventh and John Laverty eighth. Michael Laverty and Tommy Bridewell complete the top ten.

Tomorrow is expected to throw out an exciting double header for the masses of spectators that always turn out for the BSB extravaganza, and no doubt they won’t be disappointed.

Hill is keen to hold onto and preferably extend his championship lead tomorrow, but Easton won’t be far behind, keeping an eye on him.

BSB, Qualifying, Oulton Park:

Pos Rider Team Time