Pata Honda’s Jonathan Rea will start from tenth on the grid for today’s World Superbike double-header at Laguna Seca, after a ‘mistake’ cost him a place in the top six. The circuit debutant looked to be heading towards a solid lap time, but ended up crashing on the final turn.

The Northern-Irishman was able to re-mount but was unable to improve his time, meaning he will start on the fourth row. Rea knows it wont be an easy task to fight for the podium and feels he may already be out of contention for a top three finish at the track - leaving the racer feeling ‘gutted’.

“I’m really disappointed with my Superpole result because I made a mistake in the final corner on my first lap with the Q and crashed. It made it very hard to go fast again, even though I was able to re-mount and go again,” said Rea.

“But I couldn’t go faster than I went on my race tyre. I’m really gutted because tenth place is a fourth row start and it’s a long way back, especially at a circuit like Laguna where it’s difficult to pass.

“It’s definitely made Sunday tough work but you can look at these things two ways. I’m going to take the positive view and go out and really do the best I can and fight for what I can achieve.

“I think I can enjoy that side of it because I know our pace is quite good. They guys have done a great job all weekend making the bike better and better and we’ve made good progress.

“It makes it more disappointing not to at least give ourselves a fighting chance for a podium with a good start, but we’ll do the best we can from the fourth row and I’m really up for it.”