Copyright 2003, Roadracing World Publishing, Inc.

By Glenn LeSanto

Shane Byrne on provisional pole

Wild card and British Superbike Championship leader Shane Byrne heads the grid for the World Superbike Championship races at Brands Hatch. But the regular riders still have the chance to topple the pretender in this afternoon’s Superpole qualifying.

Byrne resisted a strong challenge from fellow wild card Sean Emmett to hang onto the top slot. John Reynolds used his encyclopaedic knowledge of the circuit to take his Rizla Suzuki to third leaving Regis Laconi as the sole World Superbike regular on the provisional front row.

The second row was a little more familiar, with James Toseland heading his HM Plant Ducati team mate James Toseland. Neil Hodgson and Gregorio Lavilla complete the second row. Both Frankie Chili and Ruben Xaus crashed in the session, finishing ninth and tenth respectively.



World Superbike Qualifying Results (before Superpole):

1. Shane Byrne, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.248
2. Sean Emmett, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.420
3. John Reynolds, Suzuki GSX-R 1000, 1:26.648
4. Regis Laconi, Ducati 998RS, 1:26.697
5. James Toseland, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.900
6. Chris Walker, Ducati 998F02, 1:26.953
7. Neil Hodgson, Ducati 999F03, 1:27.100
8. Gregorio Lavilla, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.133
9. Pierfrancesco Chili, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.371
10. Ruben Xaus, Ducati 999F03, 1:27.504
11. Dean Ellison, Ducati 996, 1:27.542
12. Troy Corser, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:27.664
13. Leon Haslam, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.683
14. Ivan Clementi, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:27.688
15. Michael Rutter, Ducati 998F02, 1:27.798
16. Marco Borciani, Ducati 998RS, 1:27.858
17. Yukio Kagayama, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:27.892
18. Steve Martin, Ducati 998RS, 1:28.312
19. Lucio Pedercini, Ducati 998RS, 1:28.499
20. Alex Gramigni, Yamaha YZF-R1, 1:28.589
21. Mauro Sanchini, Kawasaki ZX-7RR, 1:28.926
22. James Haydon, Foggy Petronas FP1, 1:29.016
23. Juan Borja, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.017
24, Sergio Fuertes, Suzuki GSX-R1000, 1:29.579
25. Nick Medd, Ducati 998RS, 1:29.862
26. Walter Tortoroglio, Honda RC51, 1:30.375
27. Jiri Mrkyvka, Ducati 998RS, 1:30.871
28. Luca Pedersoli, Ducati 998RS, 1:31.625
29. Giancarlo De Matteis, Ducati 998RS, 1:32.189