Ryuichi Kiyonari set a new lap record in qualifying at Donington Park on Sunday

Ryuichi Kiyonari will be on pole for the opening round of the MCE British Superbike Championship on Monday after setting a new lap record at Donington Park.

The Japanese rider scorched round the track aboard his Buildbase BMW to narrowly outpace James Ellison on the JG Speedfit Kawasaki by just 0.029secs.

Defending champion Shane Byrne was suffering from the hand and ankle injuries he sustained during testing in Spain last month but he set the pace in the final morning free practice on Sunday.

However, he could not quite manage to claim pole aboard the PBM Kawasaki and settled for third, less than a quarter of a second down.

Josh Brookes will head the second row after qualifying his Milwaukee Yamaha in fourth, ahead of the second PBM Kawasaki of Stuart Easton.

In sixth came Danny Buchan and the Be Wiser Kawasaki team, who will complete the second row on their debut.

Peter Hickman clawed his way up to seventh on his RAF Reserves BMW while Broc Parkes overcame a Q1 crash at Redgate to qualify eighth on the second Milwaukee Yamaha.

Dan Linfoot and Billy McConnell completed the top 10 for Honda Racing and Smiths BMW respectively. 

MCE Insurance British Superbike Championship, Donington Park, Grid positions:

1. Ryuichi Kiyonari (Buildbase BMW) 1m:29.455s

2. James Ellison (JG Speedfit Kawasaki) +0.029s

3. Shane Byrne (PBM Kawasaki) +0.204s

4. Josh Brookes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.270s

5. Stuart Easton (PBM Kawasaki) +0.603s

6. Danny Buchan (Be Wiser Kawasaki) +0.645s

7. Peter Hickman (RAF Reserves BMW) +0.867s

8. Broc Parkes (Milwaukee Yamaha) +0.913s

9. Dan Linfoot (Honda Racing) +0.927s

10. Billy McConnell (Smiths Racing BMW) +1.078s