McConnell on front row for title fight

MAP Raceways Yamaha’s Billy McConnell will start the final Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport race at Oulton Park from second place on the grid.

The har- riding Aussie held pole position for the bulk of today’s qualifiing session until his title rival, Steve Plater, pipped him on his very last lap. There was just 0.056secs between the two and as the race gets underway tomorrow, there are just 11 points separating them for the title.

McConnell said: “Considering I’ve been suffering from flu since Thursday and I’m still not 100 per cent, I’m pleased with how today went. I feel a million times better and I now really appreciate being well having been sick. My MAP Raceways Yamaha is working really well so it was just down to me to get a lap in. I only did seven laps yesterday so I’m a bit down on track time. So all in all, I’m happy enough. My plan tomorrow is to go out and win as I want to finish the season on a high.”

Lee Johnston from Northern Ireland qualified back in eleventh place and put his poor qualifying down to rider error. 

Johnston said: “Basically I picked the wrong tyre and I should have come in sooner to change it but I kept thinking it would hook up but it didn’t. I’m annoyed with myself as I should have known to come in. Anyway I’ll get my head down in the race and see what I can achieve.”

Allan Jon Venter, from South Africa, also had a tough qualifying but couldn’t pin point what was causing the problem although he admitted he was disappointed with how it went.

Venter said: “I’m not sure what went wrong as I was riding really hard. I’ll have to talk to my mechanics tonight and see what we can come up with. This was my first time on a softer tyre but I just couldn’t string a lap together. The pace has really increased since the last time we were here. Tomorrow I’ll just get a good start and pick off as many riders as possible.”

The Fuchs-Silkolene British Supersport race will take place tomorrow at 16:00.

Qualifying results

1. Steve Plater Honda 1:38.706
2. Billy McConnell MAP Raceways Yamaha 1:38.762
3. Ben Wilson Kawasaki 1:39.041
4. Marty Nutt Yamaha 1:39.091
5. James Westmoreland Triumph 1:39.092
6. Tom Grant Honda 1:39.197
7. Paul Young Triumph 1:39.480
8. Hudson Kennaugh Kawasaki 1:39.601
9. Jack Kennedy Yamaha 1:39.631
10. Sam Lowes Honda 1:39.698
11. Lee Johnston MAP Raceways Yamaha 1:39.731
15. Allan Jon Venter MAP Raceways Yamaha 1:40.155

Image Provided By Dave Couldwell