CIA Insurance Honda’s Jack Kennedy was pipped to the post by the newly crowned World Supersport champion, Pata Honda’s Michael Van Der Mark during the opening free practice session at Magny-Cours this morning.
Kennedy put down a 1’42.422, but the Dutchman upped his game in the dying minutes of the outing to go seven tenths quicker than the Irishman, and ended up the only rider to lap inside the 1’41 barrier, after a 1’41.763 rotation.
Initially it was Kennedy who was putting down some respectable lap times and on the 28 minute mark was third fastest after a 1’42.998. But the Dubliner was not holding back and managed to pull an extra four tenths out of the bag to top the sheets, with 24 minutes remaining.
But Kennedy was soon out paced by Van Der Mark, who went four tenths quicker than the former British Supersport rider, and was back to his usual place at the top of the timing-screens.
Soon Kennedy had another champion nipping at his heels; San Carlo’s Kenan Sofuoglu was edging ever closer to the lap times of Kennedy and was fourth fastest on the ten minute mark – with a 1’42.781.
In the end the Turkish rider couldn’t match the times set by the Irishman, and ended up rounding off the top five, just behind French wildcard rider Lucas Mahias and Marino.
It was not the best of sessions for DMC Panavto-Yamaha’s Kev Coghlan. He experienced a technical problem and had to retire to the pits. He did manage to complete a few laps on the French circuit, and finished FP1 13th fastest, after his best time of a 1’43.572.
Pirelli National Superstock 600 regular Mason Law was joined on track by Florian Marino and former MCE British Superbike contender PJ Jacobsen in the Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki garage. The Brit ended the opening session in 24th with a 1’45.886.
