Rea bolts clear of chasing pack

Full FP2 WorldSBK results from Argentina

Jonathan Rea has produced an impressive provisional top time to stretch clear of the chasing World Superbike field in Argentina.

The 2018 World Superbike champion notched up a 1m 41.794s with his final lap in FP2 to initially pull half a second ahead of his rivals, only to see Puccetti Kawasaki’s Toprak Razgatlioglu continue to impress in second place and trim Rea’s advantage down to 0.338s with his last lap.

All riders are continuing to get up to speed during Friday practice on the opening day of track action at the new San Juan Villicum circuit. Alex Lowes’ FP1 timesheet-topper was beaten by almost two-and-a-half seconds in the second session by Rea as the track rubbered in and the riders grown familiar with the Argentine circuit.

FP1’s fastest rider Lowes also improved late on to take third place for Pata Yamaha ahead of Milwaukee Aprilia Lorenzo Savadori who had looked at risk of missing the top ten until his late quick lap.

Aruba.it Racing Ducati’s Chaz Davies slotted into fifth place ahead of a standout session for Red Bull Honda’s Jake Gagne in sixth place. His efforts saw Marco Melandri shuffled down to seventh on the factory Ducati with Eugene Laverty taking eighth for Milwaukee Aprilia.

Barni Ducati’s Xavi Fores and local star rider Leandro Mercado on the Orelac Racing Kawasaki crept into the top ten to see Michael van der Mark provisionally drop out of the automatic Q2 spots for Pata Yamaha.

Tom Sykes was another high-profile name to miss out for Kawasaki having not opted for a late time attack and was duly shuffled down to 14^th behind Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda) and Loris Baz (Althea BMW).