Vainqueur de l’épreuve australienne l’an dernier, Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) sera en tête de la grille dimanche à Phillip Island pour la première manche du Championnat du Monde FIM Supersport 2015. Le Français a décroché sa onzième pole position dans la catégorie en tournant en 1’33.379 et devançait de 0.142s son premier poursuivant, Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing).
Lorenzo Zanetti, le coéquipier de Cluzel, complètera la première ligne pour ses débuts avec le MV Agusta Reparto Corse tandis que l’ancien pilote Moto2 Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) sera en tête de la deuxième ligne, devant Kyle Smith (Pata Honda WSS Team), qui est tombé dans le Siberia Corner, et Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand).
Le Français Lucas Mahias (Intermoto Kawasaki Ponyexpres) semblait pouvoir prétendre à l’une des deux premières lignes à l’issue des essais libres mais devra se contenter d’un départ en septième position après avoir été victime d’un problème technique sur sa ZX-6R en fin de séance.
Roberto Rolfo (Team Lorini), Dominic Schmitter (Go Eleven Kawasaki), qui avait lourdement chuté en début de journée, et Riccardo Russo (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) complétaient le Top 10 en qualifications.
Le wildcard australien Aiden Wagner (Oz Wildcard Racing) continuait quant à lui à impressionner et s’est qualifié en douzième position tandis que Sam Lambert (Sam Lambert Racing) partira en 23e position sur sa Triumph 675.
Last year’s World Supersport race winner Jules Cluzel (MV Agusta Reparto Corse) will start from Pole Position in the opening round of the World Supersport championship after posting a lap time in today’s qualifying session of 1.33.379s to grab the number 1 grid spot ahead of former WSS Champion Kenan Sofuoglu (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) who will line up alongside him on the grid tomorrow.
Cluzel improved on his personal best lap (which had already moved him into provisional pole position) in the closing stages to remain at the head of the time sheets at the end of an unpredictable 45 minutes.
Cluzel’s team mate Lorenzo Zanetti will start from 3rd on his MV Agusta Reparto Corse debut.
Former Moto2 rider Gino Rea (CIA Landlords Insurance Honda) returns to the series in a solid 4th ahead of Kyle Smith (Pata Honda WSS Team), the Englishman able to mount a serious attack on the Pole Position despite falling at Siberia Corner with 18 minutes to go. Ratthapark Wilairot (CORE Motorsport Thailand) will complete the second row.
Frenchman Lucas Mahias (Intermoto Kawasaki Ponyexpres) who had been right in the mix during Free Practice will start from 7th after failing to record a time because of an issue with his Kawasaki machine until the final ten minutes.
Behind the leading riders there were a number of impressive performances, WSS rookie Dominic Schmitter (Go Eleven Kawasaki) claimed 9th on his first ride at the iconic Phillip Island circuit and after a heavy crash earlier in the day.
Wildcard rider Aiden Wagner (Oz Wildcard Racing) continues to impress on his WSS debut, the youngster backing up his the top ten result from the tests earlier in the week, ensuring his place on the grid with the 12th fastest time.
Sam Lambert (Sam Lambert Racing) is relishing the opportunity to ride with the World’s best, the Australian youngster qualifying in a respectable 23rd position aboard his Triumph 675 machine.
