Portimao WSB: Rea tops first qualifying

Ten Kate Honda rider Jonathan Rea completed a successful day for Ten Kate Honda after setting the fastest time in the first qualifying session of the weekend.

Rea edged out the early pace setter Jakub Smrz in the final stages of the qualifying session.

Yamaha rider and championship hopeful Ben Spies qualified third fastest, with current championship leader Noriyuki Haga struggling in ninth place.

The Brits had mixed fortunes with Shane Byrne impressing with the fifth fastest time. Leon Haslam and Tom Sykes are currently 10th and 18th respectively.

1. Jonathan Rea GBR HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 43.786s
2. Jakub Smrz CZE Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 43.866s
3. Ben Spies USA Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 43.870s
4. Carlos Checa ESP HANNspree Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 43.945s
5. Shane Byrne GBR Sterilgarda Ducati 1098R 1min 43.947s
6. Fonsi Nieto ESP DFX Corse Ducati 1098R 1min 44.005s
7. Michel Fabrizio ITA Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 44.154s
8. Max Biaggi ITA Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 44.210s
9. Noriyuki Haga JPN Ducati Xerox 1098R 1min 44.254s
10. Leon Haslam GBR Stiggy Motorsport Honda CBR1000RR 1min 44.324s
11. Yukio Kagayama JPN Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 44.674s
12. Ruben Xaus ESP BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 44.822s
13. Troy Corser AUS BMW Motorrad S1000RR 1min 44.830s
14. Broc Parkes AUS Kawasaki SRT ZX-0R 1min 44.963s
15. Makoto Tamada JPN Kawasaki SRT ZX-10R 1min 44.977s
16. Luca Scassa ITA Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 45.077s
17. Matthieu Lagrive FRA Althea Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.133s
18. Tom Sykes GBR Yamaha WSB YZF R1 1min 45.239s
19. Leon Camier GBR Aprilia Racing RSV-4 1min 45.333s
19. Matteo Baiocco ITA Guandalini Racing Ducati 1098R 1min 45.345s
20. David Salom ESP Team Pedercini Kawasaki ZX-10R 1min 45.390s
21. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alstare Suzuki GSX-R 1000K9 1min 45.508s
22. Ryuichi Kiyonari JPN Ten Kate Honda CBR1000RR 1min 45.676s
23. Vittorio Iannuzzo ITA SCI Honda CBR1000RR 1min 46.512s
25. David Checa ESP Yamaha France GMT 94 1min 46.775s
26. Roland Resch AUT TKR Switzerland Suzuki GSX-R1000 1min 47.961s