GRT Yamaha’s Garrett Gerloff topped the WorldSBK Friday timesheets at a sopping wet Magny-Cours this afternoon, edging Jonathan Rea into second place with 0.015s with Michael Rinaldi on the GoEleven Ducati in third 0.084s off the American.
Rea had led the way for most of the session as he worked his way through a race simulation, dropping under the 1’49s barrier with only a couple of minutes left but both Rinaldi and Gerloff had other ideas.
Rinaldi missed the top slot by fractions with his final time but Gerloff was just able to do something about the five-time world champion after Rea had saved a highside, rolled through the gravel and then set the quickest time on the next lap.Times stayed very much at the high-end of the range early in the session until some of the standing water began to shift. Rea took full advantage and again opened up a two second or more gap over the opposition and it was only Ten Kate Yamaha's Loris Baz who was able to peg him back.
The tall Frenchman ended up fourth on the overall sheets but only six-tenths off the pace, just in front of Alex Lowes on the second works Kawasaki.
BMW's Tom Sykes put in a great lap to secure sixth place but promptly crashed unhurt at turn five with only a few minutes remaining.
Scott Redding did almost exactly the same thing, banging in a 1'1'49.899 before losing the front into turn 15 which put paid to any more progress.
And speaking of progress, Leon Haslam found the business end of three seconds to end the day in eighth and 1.125 off the pace.
Eugene Laverty, on the second BMW, finished in ninth after finding a similar pace increase to Haslam with works Yamaha man Michael van der Mark completing the top ten, some 1.6s off the pace of the customer R1.
Chaz Davies ended his day in 11th, one ahead of Toprak Razgatlioglu with Xavi Fores, Tati Mercado and Valentine Debise competing the top 15.
Alvaro Bautista was 18th, four seconds off the pace.
