PBM Kawasaki’s Stuart Easton clinched a front row start for the opening MCE British Superbike race at Oulton park after setting the third quickest time during qualifying this afternoon. His aim was to put his ZX-10R on row one, and he did just that in dry conditions.
The wee Scot put down a 1’35.006 and was only one tenth off pole position, which in the end went to Milwaukee Yamaha’s Josh Brookes. With Easton being so close to the number one spot on the grid he is feeling a tad disappointed, but he was able to out-pace his team-mate Shane Byrne who starts race one from the second row.
Easton knows that a good start is key if he wants to get on the podium on Monday, and predicts it could be one of six riders who will be battling for the win during the double header.
“It was a good session as I was happy to get to the front row as that was the goal, and when I saw the gap to pole and it was half a tenth then I thought that was disappointing as I thought I could have had pole,” said Easton, speaking to bikesportnews.com from the track.
“I made a few small mistakes on the lap and I went deep into a couple of the chicanes, but it is difficult to get a lap strung together here, but front row is the goal and the race is where it is important.
“There will be six riders fighting for the race win, and there’s a big difference between first and sixth. The bike is good at the moment and I need to look at myself, the bike is in a good area and I need to make myself perfect too.”
