TOMMY Hill snatched the MCE Insurance British Superbike initiative at Donington Park by shattering the lap record to claim pole start.

Hill, who has a seven points lead in the title stakes going into this round, had been consistently fast across the weekend at the Leicestershire circuit, but was pressurised throughout the final element of the grid decider by his Guisborough-based Swan Yamaha team-mate and fellow Title Fighter Michael Laverty.

But Hill saved the best for last with a scorching time of 1m 28.869secs to better the record established back in March by World Superbike titlefavourite Carlos Checa.

He needed that pace to head off the challenge Laverty who was little more than a third of a second down on him.

"Taking pole is good but it was hard work as Michael was pressurising me all of the time but now I have to concentrate on making a good get away with the bunch, getting a race rhythm and trying for the race wins," said Hill as he enjoyed his fourth pole start of the campaign.

"There is a lot of pressure on the teams and riders now we are in theShowdown phase of the championship - it is a case of being consistent and being on the podium in the remaining seven races.

"It is important to stay focussed to come out on top but I am taking things race by race and trying not to look at the championship standings," he added. Laverty is intent on maintaining the pressure on Hill as he too bids to take the country's premier crown for the first time.

He said: "It is about winning races to win championships but at the same time you cannot afford to slip off at this stage of the series."

Former MotoGP rider John Hopkins who is still nursing broken fingers on his right hand put his Samsung Crescent Suzuki onto the front row, third fastest, and well in contention to be the first American to win the title.

"The fingers are pretty sore but once the adrenalin kicks in it is not too bad," said Hopkins who is third in the overall standings. "I need to close the points deficit but it is not just about consistency now it is also aboutracking up race wins."

Peter Hickman completes the front row of the grid while Shane Byrne, seven points down on Hill in the standings, starts his HM Plant Honda from thesecond row having run fifth fastest, 1m 30.373secs.

Jon Kirkham riding the second Samsung Crescent Suzuki was sixth fastestahead of the other two riders in contention to take the crown, the reigning champion Ryuichi Kiyonari whose best lap came in 1m 30.439secs a split second up on Aussie Josh Brookes aboard the Relentless Suzuki.

Graeme Gowland, ninth fastest overall, was the top qualifier in theMirror.co.uk BSB-EVO class on the WFR Honda ahead of his team-mate James Westmoreland and Bishop Auckland Buildbase BMW rider Barry Burrell.