Melandri beats Rea to Argentina pole

Full WorldSBK Superpole qualifying results from Argentina

Marco Melandri has claimed his first pole position since April by beating dominant rider Jonathan Rea to the maiden pole at Argentina’s Circuito San Juan Villicum.

The Italian rider, who last secured a pole position at the Aragon round, blasted clear with his opening lap on the Pirelli qualifying tyre with a 1m 39.376s, just one-tenth quicker than Rea’s opening effort.

But Rea ran wide into the first corner starting his second flying lap which effectively ended his Superpole 2 session early, allowing Melandri to cement his pole position with a 1m 39.012s.

Melandri’s Aruba.it Racing Ducati team-mate Chaz Davies also missed the chance to fight at the front when he stopped with a technical issue on his final qualifying lap which sees him stuck at the front of the third row in ninth place.

Eugene Laverty completes the front row on the Milwaukee Aprilia, having taken pole at Portimao last month, which saw Tom Sykes shuffled to the front of the second row having progressed through Superpole 1.

Xavi Fores secured fifth for Barni Ducati ahead of Alex Lowes on the Pata Yamaha with Toprak Razgatlioglu set to head up row three for Puccetti Kawasaki.

Lorenzo Savadori slots into eighth place on the Milwaukee Aprilia ahead of Davies, with Red Bull Honda’s Leon Camier heading up row four in front of Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha) and Leandro Mercado (Orelac Racing Kawasaki).