Erno Kostamo continued his domination of the time sheets by posting the quickest time in the second and final qualifying session of the Macau Grand Prix and therefore starts Saturday’s Race 1 from pole position.

The Finnish rider is the only competitor to go around the Guia Circuit inside the two-and-a-half-minute mark this year with a best time of 2’28.202 on his Penz 13 BMW.

“I’m very happy to be in pole position,” said Kostamo. “The bike is performing very well and with some new rubber on the tyres we have a great chance of keeping things going as well as they have so far.”

David Datzer on the MTP-Racing by Penz 13 BMW was second fastest in first qualifying and he repeated the feat in the second session to ensure his place on the front row of the grid.

The German rider appears to have adapted to the Guia Circuit very quickly backed up by recording 2’30.086. “The bike is performing superbly,” said Datzer. “It’s a great feeling to be on the front row and also to be the fastest newcomer. It’s a dream come true to be here and even better to be going so well.”

Sheridan Morais forced his way onto the front row of the grid with a best time of 2;31.721 on the SYNTAINICS by Penz 13 Honda. Morais was fifth fastest in the earlier session but found an extra couple of seconds to give himself a great chance of success come race day.

“I’m used to circuit racing so this is a very different kind of experience for me,” admitted Morais. “Therefore, I’m delighted to be on the front row alongside riders who are more used to this than I am.”

British riders have dominated bike racing at Macau since 1998 and Rob Hodson, in his third time on the Guia Circuit, will be hoping to continue that run even though he will now start on row two having been on the provisional front row in the earlier session. He’s joined there by Switzerland’s Lukas Maurer and Portugal’s André Pires.