Jules Cluzel ensured he will give himself the best possible chance to claw back Kenan Sofuoglu’s World Supersport championship lead as the Frenchman secured pole position at Misano.
Cluzel produced an unbeatable 1’37.482 in Italy as he continues to battle with Sofuoglu in the championship, but the Turkish rider will join him on the front row along with the impressive PJ Jacobsen.
Sofuoglu leads the way in the standings by 40 points and his 1’37.955 sees him start tomorrow’s race alongside Cluzel and Jacobsen, who secured a 1’38.066 of his own to take third.
Gino Rea was able to deliver a commendable performance as the Londoner placed his CIA Landlords Insurance Honda on the second row in fifth place, as he just missed out on fourth place to Lorenzo Zanetti.
Unfortunately for fellow Brit Kyle Smith the qualifying session was not so smooth. The Pata Honda man could only finish a highly disappointing 11th place following a crash in which he was unhurt. His 1’39.480 leaves him with plenty of work to do if he is to battle with the top riders in tomorrow’s race.
Rea and Smith are locked in a battle for fifth place in the championship but following today’s qualifying it looks as if Rea may even be able to challenge for a podium at Misano, while Smith will have to negotiate his way through the field if he is to have a showdown with the Londoner.
