IMOLA, Italy – Jonathan Rea (Pata Honda World Superbike) has taken pole position for Sunday’s two 19-lap eni FIM Superbike World Championship races after a thrilling Tissot-Superpole session kept the large crowd thoroughly entertained on Saturday. This is the first Tissot-Superpole win for Rea this year, the third so far in his WSBK career and the 45th for Honda in the series.
Honestly, I didn’t really expect that,” Rea admitted. “I knew we had really good pace and we were working towards the race tomorrow. But this pole position lark doesn’t really have my name on it so I’m really happy.
“The lap was really good but I just want to thank all the guys in my box who’ve been working incredibly hard. They’re making the CBR better and better and to do it in Pata’s back yard here in Italy is just great. I’m looking forward to two strong races tomorrow and hopefully we can get some good results then.”
In Superpole 1, Niccolò Canepa (Althea Racing Ducati) and Leon Camier (BMW Motorrad Italia) emerged as the fastest two riders and progressed into Superpole 2 with the 10 riders that were automatically seeded after Free Practice.
The final 15-minute session, held in blisteringly hot conditions eventually saw Rea come out on top after several riders took their turn to head the standings. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia Racing Team) and Davide Giugliano (Ducati Superbike Team) will line up alongside Rea with other factory Ducati rider Chaz Davies, Marco Melandri (Aprilia Racing Team) and reigning Champion Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) completing the second row.
After progressing courtesy of being in the top two in Superpole 1, Canepa was the fastest EVO rider on Saturday, making it onto row 3 in ninth position after a solid performance.
Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta RC – Yakhnich Motorsport) snatched Pole Position for the fourth round of the World Supersport championship at Imola in sweltering conditions with a final lap surge to displace multiple champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Maha Team India Kawasaki). The winner from Phillip Island overcame a technical problem earlier in the weekend to take his sixth Supersport Pole Position.
Fabio Massei (EAB Racing Team Ducati) will start Sunday’s third round of the FIM Superstock 1000cc Cup from Pole Position after a blistering lap in official qualifying. For Italian Massei, it was the first Pole Position of his career and the first for the EAB Racing Team.
Marco Faccani (San Carlo Team Italia Kawasaki) has narrowed his gap to the leader of the FIM Europe Superstock 600 Championship after taking a lights to flag victory in the third round of the series at Imola on Saturday. Behind Faccani, a titanic race long battle kept the crowd entertained with points leader Niki Tuuli (Kallio Racing Yamaha) and Stefano Casalotti (VFT Racing Yamaha) completing the podium.
Javier Orellana (Europe Food SL) will be the pole sitter for Sunday’s nine-lap Pata European Junior Cup, powered by Honda race at Imola. The young Spaniard, who is currently contesting his third year on the series, will be joined on the first row on the grid by Estonian Hans Soomer (Auto24ring) and compatriot Augusto Fernandez (WIL Sport).
Superbike Qualifying Results
1.Jonathan Rea (Honda) 1:46.289 (167.182km/h)
2. Sylvain Guintoli (Aprilia) 1:46.554
3. Davide Giugliano (Ducati) 1:46.555
4. Chaz Davies (Ducati) 1:46.678
5. Marco Melandri (Aprilia) 1:46.740
6. Tom Sykes (Kawasaki) 1:46.767
7. Loris Baz (Kawasaki) 1:47.014
8. Eugene Laverty (Suzuki) 1:47.715
9. Niccolo Canepa (Ducati) 1:48.240
10. Leon Haslam (Honda) 1:48.242
11. Leon Camier (BMW) 1 :48.371
12. Alex Lowes (Suzuki) 1:48.196
13. Ivan Goi (Ducati)
14. David Salom (Kawasaki)
15. Toni Elias(Aprilia)
16. Ayrton Badovini (Bimota)
17. Luca Scassa (Kawasaki)
18. Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki)
19. Christian Iddon (Bimota)
20. Michel Fabrizio (Kawasaki)
–From the WSBK Press Office
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