ADAM Jenkinson was fastest during qualifying for Monday's Pirelli National Superstock 1000 Championship opener, but could not convert a front-row start into a race win.

The Knutsford ace, on board a Northern Escalator Installations-prepared Yamaha R1 machine, was swift off the line at Donington Park only for issues with grip to prevent him protecting the lead until the finish.

He eventually crossed the line fourth.

"I felt I had the pace to win, so I'm bit disappointed," he said afterwards.

"I have to remember though that it's a new bike and there is still a lot of work to be done.

"Everything felt fine in the early stages of the race, but at halfway it became hard to control and a slide at Redgate cost me the lead.

"I was struggling with rear end grip, to had to settle for fourth and some solid points."

Jenkinson had battled minor electrical issues during qualifying, but still lapped quicker than everybody else with a circuit of 1:32.219 securing pole position.

A near high-side in the race's ninth lap at the exit of Redgate saw him shuffled back to fourth, though a distance of less than a second covered the top four riders when the chequered flag fell.

Hudson Kennaugh enjoyed the winner's champagne for the first time since last year's round at Snetterton, holding off Josh Elliott's challenge.

Alastair Seeley took third.

Jenkinson said: "We'll get to work now on the chassis as soon as we get back to the workshop.

"New parts for the bike are arriving all the time, so I'm confident I'll close the gap next time out."

The series resumes at Brands Hatch, in Kent, on Sunday week.