The World Supersport qualifying session at Donington Park was held in tricky conditions as the rain began that had been falling steadily for several hours began to fall more heavily as the green flag indicated the start of the 45 encounter.

Jack Kennedy fell victim to the conditions on his first flying lap, losing control of his CIA Insurance Honda at McLeans corner but was able to remount and return to the garage, giving his mechanics some work to do.

Fabio Menghi (VFT Racing Yamaha) slid off at the fast Starkeys sections and was taken to the medical centre for precautionary checks while Tony Covena (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpress) also crashed at the infamous McLeans corner.

Raffaele de Rosa (CIA Insurance Honda) joined the ever growing list of fallers, high siding at the final turn. His team mate Nacho Calero also had an off track moment but was able to keep his Honda on two wheels before he too came to grief at Coppice with 15 minutes to go. Florian Marino (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpress) was a mid-session faller at the esses, the current joint leader of the series thankfully able to walk away unhurt. Fellow Frenchman Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta RC-Yakhnich Motorsport) fell in the final five minutes at Goddards as Fraser Rogers (SMS Complus Honda) and Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Puccetti Kawasaki) both fell at McLeans.

At the flag and after an exciting yet crash filled session it was Michael van der Mark (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) that claimed Pole Position ahead of Kenan Sofuoglu (Mahi Team India Kawasaki) and Kev Coghlan (DMC-Panavto Yamaha) who will complete the front row for tomorrow’s 20 lap race.

PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpress), Marco Bussolotti (Lorini Honda) and Alessandro Nocco (San Carlo Puccetti Kawasaki) will make up row 2.

British wildcard rider Sam Hornsey (Anvil TAG Triumph) rode superbly to finish 10th with fellow British rider Fraser Rogers grabbing 19th.

Jack Kennedy was able to get back on track for a few laps eventually qualifying 18th.