New dad Kenan Sofuoglu bagged World Supersport pole position at the Thailand WSBK round today, nicking top spot from fellow title challenger Jules Cluzel with 15 minutes left to run as Brit Kyle Smith was narrowly beaten into third.

Sofuoglu’s fastest lap of 1’37.345 was two tenths faster than Cluzel’s best and the French MV Agusta rider had no answer to the Turkish multiple champion, setting a quickest of 1’33.550.

Pata Honda’s Smith, meanwhile, led the way at half distance with a 1’37.780 but then crashed turn nine. He got back out and knocked another 0.003s off his time but had to settle for the outside of the front row.

Cluzel’s team-mate Lorenzo Zanetti is in fourth place with Lucas Mahias in fifth and former BSB star PJ Jacobsen, who crashed late on, bagging the last second-row spot at Chang International.

It wasn’t such a good session for CIA Honda’s Gino Rea who couldn’t find the pace for a front-row start and he will begin tomorrow’s middleweight scrap in ninth place, on the outside of the third row.

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Fastest laps sequence

99 P. JACOBSEN USA Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki ZX-6R 15:58'22.699 1'40.621 162,932
14 L. MAHIAS FRA Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki ZX-6R 15:58'22.809 1'40.145 -0.476 163,707
5 M. FACCANI ITA San Carlo Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R 15:58'23.219 1'40.114 -0.031 163,757
61 F. MENGHI ITA VFT Racing Yamaha YZF R6 15:58'24.255 1'39.503 -0.611 164,763
14 L. MAHIAS FRA Kawasaki Intermoto Ponyexpres Kawasaki ZX-6R 16:00'01.866 1'39.057 -0.446 165,505
61 F. MENGHI ITA VFT Racing Yamaha YZF R6 16:00'03.252 1'38.997 -0.060 165,605
16 J. CLUZEL FRA MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta F3 675 16:01'15.976 1'38.705 -0.292 166,095
54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R 16:02'27.953 1'38.313 -0.392 166,757
16 J. CLUZEL FRA MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta F3 675 16:02'54.192 1'38.216 -0.097 166,922
54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R 16:04'05.843 1'37.890 -0.326 167,478
111 K. SMITH GBR PATA Honda World Supersport Team Honda CBR600RR 16:19'43.032 1'37.780 -0.110 167,666
16 J. CLUZEL FRA MV Agusta Reparto Corse MV Agusta F3 675 16:22'16.680 1'37.707 -0.073 167,791
54 K. SOFUOGLU TUR Kawasaki Puccetti Racing Kawasaki ZX-6R 16:29'43.904 1'37.345 -0.362 168,415