After two sessions on track the return to Brno for the WorldSSP riders saw Jules Cluzel (NRT Yamaha) lead the bunch, with Sandro Cortese (Kallio Racing Yamaha) second overall, thanks to his morning best time. He crashed in the afternoon and could not improve his previous best time as a result.
A red flag incident, due to an air-fence issue after Cortese’s fall, meant the second FP session was delayed for a time, but on return to the track it was business as usual for the top mean, with Randy Krummenacher (BARDAHL Evan Bros. WorldSSP Yamaha) third.
A proven WorldSSP race winner of the recent past, Ayrton Badovini (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) placed fourth, withFederico Caricasulo (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) completing the top five riders pre-Superpole on Saturday.
2017 world champion Lucas Mahias (GRT Yamaha Official WorldSSP Team) slotted into sixth place at the undulating Brno circuit in the Czech Republic.
Austria’s Thomas Gradinger (NRT Yamaha) was seventh fastest, while a late flurry from Anthony West (EAB antwest Racing Kawasaki) saw him eighth, and top Kawasaki runner.
A near highside from Raffaele De Rosa (MV Agusta Reparto Corse by Vamag) did not put him off and he finished up ninth quickest, ahead of the second-fastest Kawasaki Friday rider Sheridan Morais (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing). Kyle Smith (CIA Landlord Insurance) was 11th on his return to his former team, and top Honda competitor in day one. Fastest ESS rider was once again Rob Hartog (Team Hartog Against Cancer Kawasaki), who was 12th this time.
