Yakhnich Yamaha’s Sam Lowes was on the pace this morning in the opening World Supersport free practice session at Jerez. The newly crowned world champion topped the timesheets from the start and was able to hold off the charge of team-mate Vladimir Leonov, with an impressive 1’44.375 lap.
With five minutes remaining of the outing Lowes was still the fastest rider out on the Spanish circuit, but a last lap dash from Pata Honda’s Michael Van der Mark threatened to knock the Derby rider off the provisional pole spot, but it was not enough and the Dutchman was three tenths of a second slower, with Leonov competing the top three.
DMC-Lorenzini rider Kev Coghlan secured a fourth place on the timing screens with his 1’44.935 lap, followed by fellow Brit, PTR Honda’s Danny Webb, who was unable to lap in the 1’44’s this morning.
The young rider did manage to go quicker than Pata Honda’s Lorenzo Zanetti and David Salom, with Rivamoto’s Jack Kennedy finishing the first session in eighth, after a 1’45.342.
ParkinGO MV rider Christian Iddon, just failed to make it inside the top ten fastest times. The Stockport native could only manage thirteenth, with his best time of 1’45.698, three tenths of a second behind Dubliner, Kennedy.