WSS Phillip Island: Rea on lap record pace first time out

Jonathan Rea made a seamless transition to life in the World Supersport championship with a seriously impressive performance on day one of the three day official Pirelli test at Phillip Island.

Riding the Hannspree Ten Kate Honda CBR600RR for the first time, Rea took less than ten laps to get on the pace despite it being his first time at the fast and undulating Australian circuit, his first time on Pirelli and his first time on a Supersport bike in four years.

At the end of day one Rea was on lap record pace with the third fastest time of 1m35.8s just 0.1s slower than his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda team-mate Andrew Pitt.

Rea’s impressive debut wasn’t just about a single fast lap with the 20year old completing a massive 82 laps including an impressive race simulation.

Speaking to MCN, Rea said: “I felt pretty nervous this morning and I was shocked at how fast I was right from the start. Coming into a good team like this with a fully developed bike and all the data they’ve got there would have been something wrong with me had I been four seconds off the pace.

“It’s been a good day and a day of firsts, it’s my first time at Phillip Island, my first time on Pirelli’s, my first time riding for a foreign team and the first time I’ve had a world champion as a team-mate.”