Superpole 1 saw one rider less on the grid at Silverstone after Tom Sykes crashed during FP2. The Kawasaki rider sprained his ankle and picked up a mild concussion. The first stint went to Eugene Laverty with a best lap of 2.04.919, and the first rider to go under the 2.05 mark. Michel Fabrizio taking second in the last minute after being down in 13th.

Max Biaggi managed a 4th spot despite a low side crash in the early minutes of the session after putting his tires outside the racing line. Ayrton Badovini also crashed out and he finished 12th. Carlos Checa almost didn’t make the cut and decided to go for a fast lap in the final minute which put him in 3rd.

Not making the cut to SP2 were Jakub Smrz, James Toseland and Maxime Berger.

Superpole 2 began with no one wanting to be the first rider to take the lead and bunching up, all waiting for a tow, until John Hopkins decided to be the reference point for the rest of the field. Carlos Checa took this session with a blazing 2.04.472 followed by Leon Camier and Eugene Laverty and John Hopkins grabbed fourth on his last lap out.

Out of SP3, Leon Haslam, Ayrton Badovini, (who had some trouble breathing after his SP1 crash). Max Biaggi will take off in 11th on the grid and it was his worst qualifying session so far, with Mark Aitchison managing another third row start for Pedercini.

Superpole 3 saw Noriyuki Haga crash out almost immediately and he ended up picking up some pieces of the Aprilia Pata’s fairing, but the biggest news was that wildcard John Hopkins grabbed his first ever WSBK Superpole with a super hot 2.04.041, which also became Silverstone’s new Superbike lap record.

Hopkins lap on his last set of qualifying tires left Eugene Laverty in second and a mere 0.027s off the pole. The third spot went to Leon Camier followed by points leader Carlos Checa.

The second row will see Sylvain Guintoli (1.415s from the pole) followed by Marco Melandri, Michel Fabrizio and Haga. Making it 2 Suzuki’s, 2 Yamaha’s, 2 Ducati’s and 2 Aprilia’s in the first eight positions.

WSBK Silverstone starting grid:

01- John Hopkins – Samsung Crescent Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000
02- Eugene Laverty Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1
03- Leon Camier – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
04- Carlos Checa – Althea Racing – Ducati 1198
05- Sylvain Guintoli – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198
06- Marco Melandri – Yamaha World Superbike Team – Yamaha YZF R1
07- Michel Fabrizio – Team Suzuki Alstare – Suzuki GSX-R 1000
08- Noriyuki Haga – Pata Racing Team Aprilia – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
09- Leon Haslam – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR
10- Ayrton Badovini – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR
11- Max Biaggi – Aprilia Alitalia Racing Team – Aprilia RSV4 Factory
12- Mark Aitchison – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R
13- Jakub Smrz – Team Effenbert Liberty Racing – Ducati 1198
14- James Toseland – BMW Motorrad Italia – BMW S1000RR
15- Maxime Berger – Supersonic Racing Team – Ducati 1198
16- Tom Sykes – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
17- Troy Corser – BMW Motorrad Motorsport – BMW S1000RR
18- Alex Lowes – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR
19- Joan Lascorz – Kawasaki Racing Team – Kawasaki ZX-10R
20- Roberto Rolfo – Team Pedercini – Kawasaki ZX-10R
21- Fabrizio Lai – Castrol Honda – Honda CBR 1000RR
22- Jon Kirkham – Samsung Crescent Racing – Suzuki GSX-R 1000

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