Update: Laverty, Mahias, Davies, Bautista and Lowes had a lap time cancelled for not adhering to turn one yellow flags. Lowes now tenth, Razgatlioglu promoted to front row
Reigning WorldSBK king Jonathan Rea set a new Estoril outright lap record on his way to pole position in Portugal.
The Kawasaki man put in a 1’35.876 using the Pirelli qualifier to depose Ducati man and title challenger Scott Redding who had been on top with a 1’36.047.
Alex Lowes continues his good qualifying form in 2021, picking up the final front row spot for Kawasaki,
2020 Estoril master Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha) was fourth, a good qualifying performance on a soft rear tyre despite leaving his box at the very last second and having to put a tough move on Chaz Davies at the end of the lap.
Garrett Gerloff (GRT Yamaha) ran in fifth, with the all-time Superpole record holder Tom Sykes (BMW Motorrad Motorsport) sixth.
Michae Rinaldi (Aruba Ducati) heads up the third row in seventh place, Eugene Laverty (RC Squadra Corse BMW) was eighth and privateer Lucas Mahias (Kawasaki Puccetti Racing) was ninth after lapping behind Rea on a race tyre in the middle of the session.
Tito Rabat (Barni Racing Ducati) was tenth but also ran off track as he followed Redding around.
Alvaro Bautista (HRC Honda) was top Honda qualifier in 12th, one place behind rookie Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha).
