Lowes and Davies on provisional front row at Phillip Island

Sam Lowes and Chaz Davies made impressive starts to their respective World Supersport campaigns by both securing a place on the provisional front row at the end of first qualifying.

Lowes secured third spot onboard the Parkalgar Honda with Davies in fourth onboard the ParkinGo Yamaha.

Lowes said: “It’s going really well, we made some changes to improve the rear grip which worked even though the track was hotter than this morning. I did a few laps in the 34’s but I was also able to stay in the 35’s after 18 laps on a tyre which is good considering that the pace at the end of last years race was in the 36’s.”

James Ellison secured ninth despite suffering the effects of surgery on his left knee on Wednesday.

He said: “My knee just feel awkward on the bike, but it’s not that painful. I don’t think its affecting my lap times, but we do need to find about 0.5 seconds. At the moment it feels like I’m pushing the front too much and the tyre is having to absorb the bumps, but we’ll get there.”

Gino Rea suffered a crash at the end of the session to finish the day in 11th place.

Fabien Foret set the fastest time onboard his Hannspree Ten Kate Honda with David Salom second onboard the Motocard Kawasaki.  

1 99 F. FORET FRA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’34.091
2 44 D. SALOM ESP Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’34.166
3 11 S. LOWES GBR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’34.875
4 7 C. DAVIES GBR Yamaha ParkinGO Team Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.065
5 22 R. TAMBURINI ITA Bike Service R.T. Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.203
6 9 L. SCASSA ITA Yamaha ParkinGO Team Yamaha YZF R6 1’35.236
7 23 B. PARKES AUS Kawasaki Motocard.com Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’35.297
8 21 F. MARINO FRA Hannspree Ten Kate Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’35.335
9 77 J. ELLISON GBR Bogdanka PTR Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’35.480
10 127 R. HARMS DEN Harms Benjan Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 1’35.563
11 4 G. REA GBR Step Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 1’35.576
12 117 M. PRAIA POR Parkalgar Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’35.953
13 28 P. SZKOPEK POL Bogdanka PTR Honda Honda CBR600RR 1’35.968
14 55 M. ROCCOLI ITA Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.026
15 60 V. IVANOV UKR Step Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 1’36.048
16 34 R. QUARMBY RSA Suriano Racing Team Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.168
17 91 D. DELL’OMO ITA Suriano Racing Team Triumph Daytona 675 1’36.273
18 69 O. JEZEK CZE SMS Racing Honda CBR600RR 1’36.682
19 31 V. IANNUZZO ITA Lorenzini by Leoni Kawasaki ZX-6R 1’36.826
20 8 B. CHESAUX SUI MACH Racing Honda CBR600RR 1’36.863
21 10 I. TOTH HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR 1’37.666
22 5 A. LUNDH SWE Cresto Guide Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 1’37.809
23 19 M. PIROTTA AUS KUJA Racing Team Honda CBR600RR 1’38.770
24 25 M. JERMAN SLO MD Team Jerman Triumph Daytona 675 1’39.030
25 87 L. MARCONI ITA Bike Service R.T. Yamaha YZF R6 1’39.343
26 38 B. NEMETH HUN Team Hungary Toth Honda CBR600RR 1’39.479