Rea stays top despite late fall

Full WorldSBK FP3 results from Laguna Seca

Jonathan Rea has produced a clean sweep of top times on the combined timesheet in Friday practice at Laguna Seca for Kawasaki despite a tumble off late in the final practice session.

Rea stays top despite late fall

Full WorldSBK FP3 results from Laguna Seca

Jonathan Rea has produced a clean sweep of top times on the combined timesheet in Friday practice at Laguna Seca for Kawasaki despite a tumble off late in the final practice session.

In the opening minutes of FP3, Marco Melandri instantly went quicker than his previous best lap but could only save off fourth-hundredths of a second which kept Rea’s top time from FP2 the fastest effort from Friday’s track action.

Rea’s participation in the late time attacks at the end of the final session was cut short when he low-sided off at Turn 5 but he remained clear at the top with the high track temperatures making the circuit slippery in the closing stages.

Lorenzo Savadori was the biggest improver in the final session jumping up to fourth place on the combined times for Milwaukee Aprilia, fractionally ahead of teammate Eugene Laverty, to ensure both factory Aprilias looked in strong contention at the US circuit.

Rea’s Kawasaki teammate Tom Sykes also failed to make a lap time gain in FP3 but remained in third place behind Melandri and in front of both Aprilia riders.

Chaz Davies ensured his automatic spot in the top 10 for Aruba.it Racing Ducati by taking sixth thanks to his FP3 fastest lap to move ahead of Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes who heads into this round fresh from his maiden World Superbike race win last time out in Brno.

Leon Camier also booked his place in Superpole 2 with a late lap on the Red Bull Honda to move ahead of the MV Agusta of Jordi Torres.

Xavi Fores (Barni Ducati) failed to improve on his personal best lap in FP3 but kept hold of the final top 10 spot by virtue of no gains from either Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) or Loris Baz (Aletha BMW) to force the pair into Superpole 1.

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