Rea holds provisional pole at Mondello.
18-year-old Red Bull Honda rider Jonathon Rea has secured provisional pole position in the first qualifying session at Mondello Park for the fifth round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship.
HM Plant Honda's Michael Rutter held top spot for much of the session whilst the teams tested their race set-up.
18-year-old Red Bull Honda rider Jonathon Rea has secured provisional pole position in the first qualifying session at Mondello Park for the fifth round of the Bennetts British Superbike championship.
HM Plant Honda's Michael Rutter held top spot for much of the session whilst the teams tested their race set-up.
It was not until ten minutes left in the session that riders started to don qualifying tyres to attempt a quick lap. Rea was the first to challenge Rutter, setting a time that was quicker than Rutter Friday practice lap record scorcher. Rutter responded with a faster time, only for Rea to pip the factory Honda rider at the end of the session.
Airwaves Ducati's Leon Haslam briefly held pole but was knock off the top spot by both Rutter and Rea in the dying stages of the session.
Vivadi Kawasaki's Ben Wilson and Cup contender James Buckingham both received a black and orange flag from race control to signal they had a technical problem, whilst there were a number of fallers.
Rutter's team-mate Ryuichi Kiyonari had a high speed off with only 16 minutes left in the session, as did Vitrans' John Laverty, Danny Beaumont and Michael Pensavalle.
Top 20
1. Rea
2. Rutter
3. Haslam
4. Richards
5. Emmett
6. Lavilla
7. Kiyonari
8. M Laverty
9. Harris
10. Hill
11. Smart
12. Thomas
13. Clarke
14. Kirkham
15. Mason
16. McWilliam
17. Nutt
18. Martin
19. Haydon
20. Plater
