After three free practice sessions the Chang International Circuit Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team) finally ended up on top after a tempestuous FP3 session, setting a lap of 1’33.327.
He led his own team-mate Tom Sykes (Kawasaki Racing Team) as the top riders got dialled in but Sykes had earlier been on top of the rankings. His first really fast time was docked for a yellow flag infringement, but a second fast lap was within 0.057 seconds off Rea’s final best.
Jordi Torres (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) was third quickest, and on top for some time himself, before the Kawasaki riders made their final marks.
Championship leader Marco Melandri (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) was fourth fastest, Chaz Davies (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) fifth, and Leon Camier (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) sixth. The top six were covered by 0.204 seconds.
Michael van der Mark (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) was top Yamaha rider on day one, seventh, with the unfortunate Xavi Fores (Barni Racing Team Ducati) going from potential fastest man to eighth, after a clash with Eugene Laverty (Milwaukee Aprilia) as they both went for the same apex and fell. Fores was taken away for medical checks despite getting back to the pits, and could not go for a better lap time in the last session.
Laverty would end up ninth fastest, with Alex Lowes (Pata Yamaha Official WorldSBK) the final automatic qualifier into Superpole 2 on Saturday, in tenth place.
Lorenzo Savadori (Milwaukee Aprilia) was 11th, Loris Baz (GULF ALTHEA BMW Racing Team) 12th. Baz was only 0.684 seconds from Rea.
Jake Gagne (Red Bull Honda World Superbike Team) was 14th fastest and PJ Jacobsen (TripleM Honda World Superbike Team) 17th of the 19 riders.
By Gordon Ritchie
