Buildbase Suzuki's Luke Stapleford has, by his own admission, struggled in the Bennetts British Superbike class this year but feels that at Assen, he was able to gauge his true pace on the litre bike.

Stapleford was well underneath the existing lap record in qualifying this afternoon and will line up with Scott Redding and Tommy Bridewell at the Dutch track for race one tomorrow lunchtime.

"We have had a really difficult season, everyone has seen that but all year I have been looking forward to coming here," said Stapleford,speaking at the track.

"I've not been to any of the British tracks for three years, Assen I have always been comfortable even on the 600. This is a true gauge to see where I am at, whether I can ride a Superbike and get near the front.

"I'd have been happy with the front two rows, so to get on the front row puts us in a good position. I am comfortable doing what I think will be a good pace in the race - unless the Ducatis have got something extra.

"Hopefully I can dig deep and have a go. Our plan was to get to a mid-1'36 and I would have been happy so when I saw 1'35.8 I can't complain."