Rea leads Krummenacher in World Supersport

The ‘other’ Rea in the WorldSBK paddock, WorldSSP rider Gino Rea (GRT Racing Team MV Agusta), edged out second place rider Randy Krummenacher (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) in Friday’s combined qualifying times, with Rea just 0.037 seconds ahead of the one-time championship leader.

In third place after day one current points leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) put himself third, with Luke Stapleford (CIA Landlord Insurance Profile Honda) fourth and making it a very close top quartet. He was only 0.078 seconds from Rea, at what us also a home round for him.

The first Honda rider home proved to be PJ Jacobsen (Honda World Supersport Team), just over a quarter of a second off the best on Friday. Surprise Sepang race winner Ayrton Badovini (GEMAR Balloons – Team Lorini Honda) was sixth. Easily the best of the returning ESS riders, who only ride at the European rounds of the championship, was Illia Mikhalchik (DS Junior Team Kawasaki) who placed seventh, just one place up on Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance Honda).

Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was the best of the two official MV Agusta riders in ninth. Ondrej Jezek (Team GOELEVEN Kawasaki) ran out tenth. After problems in the morning session championship contender Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) improved his time in the afternoon but was still only 13^th. In all, 35 riders took to the WSS class at Donington.