Thailand WSB: Rea continues Superpole clean sweep

Jonathan Rea has extended his clean sweep of superpole wins for 2015 at the first time out at Thailand’s Burinam circuit. The factory Kawasaki rider snuck in a fast lap late in the session to take the top spot from a bevvy of other Brits.

Rea was the first to put in a flying fast lap and go quickest, but a torrent of fast laps saw teammate Tom Sykes, as well as Alex Lowes and Leon Haslam, all briefly move to the top of the session.

However, it was Rea’s lap, the last flying lap of the session that left him on top. Speaking after the lap, the Northern Irishman commented: “I knew it was especially important at this track to be on pole because turn one is very close to the start line, and it gives me the best possible chance. The lap times between the top six guys are very close, though, and there could be fireworks all race!”

Haslam’s fast lap gave him second, just ahead of close friend Alex Lowes, while Sykes heads up the second row, ahead of the second Aprilia of Jordi Torres and Welshman Chaz Davies.

Returning champion Troy Bayliss was an excellent seventh on his second wildcard appearance, just ahead of Honda’s pair of reigning world champions Michael van der Mark and Sylvain Guintoli. Former European Superstock 1000 champion Leandro Mercado rounded out the top ten.