2002 World SuperBike Championship - Round 6 - Silverstone

The possibility of adverse weather affecting the normal Superpole format was the catalyst that persuaded the SBK Race Direction declare a ‘Wet’ Superpole.

Under these rules, each of the top 16 riders from regulation qualifying are given a maximum of 12 laps in which to set their single fastest time, and ultimately determine their grid positions for the races on Sunday.

Over 30 minutes remained when the rain clouds appeared and the first spots started to fall, with Troy Bayliss (Ducati Infostrada) on pole at that point.

The adverse ambient conditions abated towards the end of the session and with the track drying rapidly the top riders got one more chance to aim for the Superpole win. Underlining his class on his big red Ducati, Bayliss proved to be the master of the circuit with his very last lap.

Colin Edwards (Castrol Honda) and then Steve Hislop (Monstermob Ducati) had dropped him to third, but Bayliss’ eventual best time of 1’47”729 was the quickest qualifying lap of the weekend.

Edwards now starts second, while local hero Hislop, 40 years old, starts third on the grid. Another experienced rider, Noriyuki Haga (Playstation 2 Aprilia), was fourth after a relatively subdued qualifying session.

Michael Rutter’s fifth place performance was a great boost for the Renegade Ducati team, especially as he eased in front of the most experienced SBK rider in the championship, Pierfrancesco Chili (NCR Ducati). Chili was one of the few riders who did not use up his full allocation of laps.

Neil Hodgson, who sat out most of the first few dry laps, finished an eventual eighth (on the second row) just behind Ruben Xaus, riding the second factory Infostrada Ducati.

Lucio Pedercini won a cheer for the Ducati privateers with his ride to ninth and Shane Byrne took tenth on his Renegade machine. Chris Walker tried hard but was rewarded with nothing more enthralling than 11th on his Kawasaki Racing Team machine - but he did beat the young HM Plant Ducati rider James Toseland, who stole the last spot on the third row.

The fourth line of riders will comprise a seriously out of sorts Ben Bostrom (L&M Ducati), Glen Richards (Hawk Racing Kawasaki), Gregorio Lavilla (Alstare Suzuki) and Pirelli-sponsored Ducati rider Steve Martin.

Bayliss - 1m47.729
Edwards - 1m47.883
Hislop - 1m47.902
Haga - 1m48.561
Rutter - 1m48.567
Chili - 1m49.001
Xaus - 1m49.108
Hodgson - 1m49.127
Pedercini - 1m49.523
Byrne - 1m49.629
Walker - 1m49.687
Toseland - 1m49.732
B Bostrom - 1m49.783
Richards - 1m49.923
Lavilla - 1m50.136
Martin - 1m51.309
E Bostrom - 1m52.266
Ellison - 1m52.541
Borja - 1m52.578
Sanchini - 1m52.616
Borciani - 1m52.890
Foti - 1m53.405
Goddard - 1m53.509
Clementi - 1m53.753
Antonello - 1m53.908
Parkes - 1m54.249
Heckles - 1m54.370
Mrkyvka - 1m55.529

NQ - Gyger, Stey