Redding edges Brookes for pole as Mackenzie suffers heavy fall

Scott Redding has led a Be Wiser Ducati 1-2 in qualifying at Brands Hatch ahead of team-mate Josh Brookes, while McAMS Yamaha’s Tarran Mackenzie tumbled off in Q3.

The ex-MotoGP star produced an early 1m 24.971s to take provisional pole by just 0.007s in front of Brookes when Mackenzie low-sided off on his opening Q3 lap at Clearways. The McAMS Yamaha rider suffered a heavy hit with the crash safety barrier which triggered a red flag midway through the final qualifying session.

After a 15-minute delay to allow medicals to treat Mackenzie, who was reported as conscious and taken to the medical centre in an ambulance, none of the front-runners could improve their times which duly saw Redding retain pole position ahead of Brookes with McAMS Yamaha’s Jason O’Halloran completing the front row.

Oxford Products Ducati’s Tommy Bridewell, fresh from World Superbike stand-in action, heads up the second row less than one-tenth ahead of Dan Linfoot on the Santander Salt Yamaha.

Christian Iddon became the only improver in the restarted Q3 session to jump up to sixth place for Tyco BMW to see Peter Hickman shuffled back to the front of the third row for Smiths Racing BMW in seventh place.

Bradley Ray showed a long-overdue return to form for Buildbase Suzuki in eighth place ahead of Mackenzie who rounded out the Q3 contenders after failing to set a lap time.

Danny Buchan was the unlucky 10th-placed rider to narrowly miss out on the pole shootout for FS-3 Racing Kawasaki ahead of Luke Mossey who led the Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki charge after stand-in team-mate Hector Barbera was knocked out in Q1 down in 23rd place.

Keith Farmer also showed signs of form with Tyco BMW in 12th place to complete row four ahead of Andrew Irwin on the Honda Racing in front of brother Glenn Irwin (Quattro Plant JG Speedfit Kawasaki).

Luke Stapleford shook off a Q1 off to fight into the second session for 15th place for Buildbase Suzuki ahead of season-opener race-winner Josh Elliott on the OMG Racing Suzuki in 16th.

Donington Park star Xavi Fores struggled in qualifying at Brands Hatch and duly dropped out in Q1 down in 19th place for Honda Racing.

Ryan Vickers missed qualifying after suffering concussion in a FP3 fall for RAF Regular & Reserves Kawasaki.