Josh Brookes underlined his determination to take the lead in the MCE Insurance British Superbike title stakes as he powered in his first pole start of the season to grab the psychological advantage from Tommy Hill who defends a slender four points advantage going into the sixth round at Knockhill.

The Aussie, riding HM Plant Honda, enjoyed a turn-around in speed and fortune in between the morning free practice and then the all-important Swan Combi Roll for Pole, largely due to the hard work of his team in changing the engine on his bike.

“The best way to start any race is from first place on the grid though I am a bit surprised as I was struggling at the end of free practice but the team got their heads together and sorted it out,” explained Brookes after he had all but equalled the record around the 1.2713mile Fife circuit with a lap in 48.486secs.

“These races are never easy, and I think these could be the hardest of the year because everybody is so close and with everything to gain,” added Brookes who outpaced his team-mate, the double race winner of the previous Mallory Park round, Ryuichi Kiyonari by 0.150secs.

Hill, riding the Worx Crescent Suzuki, ran third fastest, securing the all-important front row start with a lap in 48.698secs for races in which he is intent on putting his problematic previous two rounds behind him by returning to winning way.

He is well placed to do that, but Michael Laverty, who is third in the standings, faces an uphill struggle in these races as he starts his Relentless Suzuki from the fifth row of the grid after crashing heavily, without injury, in the first element of the grid decider.

Kiyonari will be looking to fully exploit that, as will Michael Rutter, who, continuing his rich vein of form aboard the RidersMotorcycles.com Ducati,with a lap in 48.791secs starts from the front row.

James Ellison, three months on from breaking his thigh in a crash during practice for the Thruxton round, continues his racing return with a second row start. The Swan Honda rider excelled with fifth best time, 48.800secs, to be a split second ahead of Motorpoint Yamaha rider Dan Linfoot and the local hero Stuart Easton who is aiming to go one better than his second place in the corresponding round of last year.

Tommy Bridewell ran eighth fastest on the Quay Garage Honda to be ahead of Alastair Seeley, slowed by a misfire to his Relentless Suzuki, and the two times winner of the World Supersport title Andrew Pitt, riding Motorpoint Yamaha. Chris Walker, on his Suzuki, and MSS Colchester Kawasaki’s Simon Andrews completed the third row at the expense of his team-mate Gary Mason.

John Laverty aboard the Buildbase Kawasaki along with Peter Hickman and Christian Iddon completed the fourth row, with the best of the Mirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class runners lining up behind them.

Steve Brogan was the fastest of them, 49.751secs on the Jentin BMW, a tenth of a second up on series leader Hudson Kennaugh riding MAR Kawasaki with Two Brothers Kawasaki rider David Johnson well on their pace.