Neil Hodgson has captured the provisional pole position in the opening session in the European round of the World Superbike Championship at Brands Hatch. The GSE Ducati rider, currently fifth in the championship standings, beat Scotsman Steve Hislop into the top spot on the grid by setting the fastest time of the day with one minute 26.833 seconds. Hislop looked set for pole on the MonsterMob Ducati after a succession of fastest laps but Hodgson's late charge snatched the top spot from under his nose.
Third place went to the Corona Alstare Suzuki of Italian Pierfrancesco Chili and former champion Troy Corser completed the front row on the Axo Aprilia. Championship leader Troy Bayliss was a surprising 11th on the Infostrada Ducati.
Filed by Amanda Fennelly
