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WSS: Rea splashes to provisional pole |
Jonathan Rea has paddled to provisional pole position in qualifying for the latest World Supersport Championship round at a sodden Donington Park.
The Northern Irishman, chasing his third straight victory, was in fine form as he claimed the top spot by a clear three tenths of a second from fellow Honda rider Joshua Brookes.
With treacherous weather conditions causing several riders to experience a tumble, including Mark Aitchison, Broc Parkes and Miguel Praia, Rea was nonetheless able to get plenty of pace from the Ten Kate machine to claim a lap of 1min 47.714secs.
With Brookes second, Ivan Clementi was a strong third on the Triumph Italia machine, marginally ahead of Matthieu Lagrive and Joan Lascorz.
Rea's team-mate and championship leader Andrew Pitt was seventh fastest as he spent the time trying to find the right set-up on the bike, marginally ahead of 250GP rider Eugene Laverty, the Irishman making an impressive first showing in qualifying ahead of his World Supersport debut this weekend.
Chris Martin, meanwhile, was an equally notable ninth to be the best of the wild-card riders, while he also had the pleasure of being easily the quickest Kawasaki in the field.
As for the remaining Brits, Rob Frost was 16th on the Buff Triumph, while Graeme Gowland was 30th. British Supersport wild-card rider Hudson Kennaugh on the Raceways Yamaha was 23rd.
