Cluzel signe le meilleur temps du vendredi à Imola / Cluzel heads into Saturday as the fastest in WSS

Le Français est en tête du classement combiné du World Supersport.

Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) a pris l’avantage vendredi à Imola en bouclant le tour du circuit italien en 1’51.552 à la fin de la seconde séance d’essais, sur son avant-dernier tour. 

Leader du classement général après avoir remporté les deux dernières courses, Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) se trouvait ainsi relégué à la seconde position, pour seulement 0.049s d’écart avec le Français, et s’est rapidement remis d’une chute survenue cet après-midi.

Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing), le champion 2014 du STK600, a réalisé une belle performance pour se classer troisième, à 0.519s de Cluzel, tandis que PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) et Lorenzo Zanetti (MV Agusta Reparto Corse), vainqueur à Imola l’an dernier, complétaient le Top 5.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) a de son côté fini la journée en sixième position après avoir amélioré son meilleur chrono personnel au dernier moment.

Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25), Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) et Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda) figuraient eux aussi dans le Top 10.

Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) s’est pour sa part classé quinzième.

Big lap time improvements for WSS riders in FP2 despite temperature rise.

Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will lead the World Supersport riders into tomorrow’s FP3 and sole qualifying session after topping the opening day of on track action. The Frenchman’s time of 1.51.552s on his penultimate lap narrowly edged championship leader Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who left it until his final lap to improve on his FP1 time.

The Turk who has won the last two World Supersport races to lead the current standings lapped within 0.049s of his championship rival, the Imola winner from 2013 producing a stunning run of consistently fast times throughout both sessions. Sofuoglu was however lucky to escape injury after falling awkwardly during FP2 at turn 2.

Marco Faccani (San Carlo Puccetti Racing) produced a incredible lap in the closing stages of FP2 to finish an impressive 3^rd(+0.519s), the current STK600 champion looking comfortable on his home circuit.

American PJ Jacobsen (Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres) is in contention in 4^th overall ahead of Lorenzo Zanetti who gave the Italians something to cheer about. The 2014 WSS race winner at Imola finishing the opening day 5^th overall.

Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) was another rider to leave it until the last moment to show his true pace, the Thai rider elevated himself to 6^th with his final lap of the 45 minute session.

Alex Baldolini (Race Department ATK#25), Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda), Kyle Smith (Pata Honda World Supersport Team) and Roberto Rolfo (Lorini Honda) completed the top ten.

Remember to check out our exclusive interviews with today’s top WSS riders at worldsbk.com