Reigning WorldSBK Champion Jonathan Rea was under Tom Sykes’ pole record on the second day of testing at Portimao in scorching temperatures.

Rea used a Pirelli qualifier to set his 1’41.192 which was under Sykes’ 1’41.360 set back in 2013, and he was the best part of a second faster than Pata Yamaha’s Alex Lowes, who put in a 1’42.140 on a race tyre after a small crash.

Everyone set their best times before lunch as the mercury soared and Lowes’ team-mate Michael van der Mark was less than a tenth further back, putting in a 1’42.182.

Outgoing Aruba Ducati rider Marco Melandri ended his day in fourth place after leading yesterday, lapping at 1’42.254 while team-mate Chaz Davies, who broke his collarbone a couple of weeks ago, upped his game to a 1’42.564.

Xavi Fores finished the test in sixth place on a 1’42.709 while Lorenzo Savadori was comfortably the fastest of the Milwaukee Aprilias in seventh. The Italian lapped at 1’42.713 to finish almost a second quicker than Eugene Laverty.

Jordi Torres ended in ninth just behind Leon Camier, who finished early as he is still suffering the affects of the vertebrae he broke during a Suzuka test crash. Puccetti Kawasaki’s Topratz was tenth with Jake Gagne, who didn’t improve from yesterday, in 11th.

PJ Jacobsen got in some track time on the Red Bull Hondas and finished in 15th, one place behind Laverty.