WorldSBK: Jonathan Rea grabs pole position at home

Jonathan Rea will start his home race in pole position after a thrilling qualifying session. 

Jonathan Rea (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) has claimed his first pole position of the season after a great qualifying session. Rea claimed a new lap record after setting a time of 1’26.041.

Alvaro Bautista (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) had a dramatic qualifying session and will start race one from second place. Bautista had a crash in the final stages of qualifying, ending the session on a scooter. Alvaro Bautista ran into the gravel and had a low-speed crash but walked away from the incident.

Danilo Petrucci (Barni Spark Racing Team) ended the session in third place, claiming his first front-row start. Petrucci managed to get a tow of fellow Ducati rider, Bautista on his fast lap, allowing Petrucci to set a time of 1’26.205.

Toprak Razgatlioglu (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK) qualified in fourth position after a quiet session. Razgatlioglu was only 0.369 from pole position, showing the competitiveness of WorldSBK.

Alex Lowes (Kawasaki Racing Team WorldSBK) ends qualifying in fifth in his home round at Donington. Lowes brings the added confidence of a one-year contract extension, which will see Kawasaki continue with an all-British line-up.\

Dominique Aegerter (GYTR GRT Yamaha WorldSBK Team) ended his qualifying in sixth position, rounding out the second row. Aegerter was ahead of his teammate, Remy Gardner who had a tough Superpole session.

Andrea Locatelli (Pata Yamaha Prometeon WorldSBK)  was down in seventh position on the factory Yamaha. Locatelli has had a consistent season so far and improved on his practice pace earlier in the weekend.

The Donington expert returns

Tom Sykes (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) had an impressive Superpole session at his home round. Sykes had the pace for the front row of the grid but had a lap time removed after a yellow flag was out in the final sector. 

Michael Ruben Rinaldi (Aruba.it Racing – Ducati) struggled in Superpole qualifying and ended the session in ninth. Rinaldi suffered a crash just moments before his teammate and set a time of 1’26.564. 

Garett Gerloff (Bonovo Action BMW) ended his Superpole in 10^th place, ending the session as the second BMW. He was ahead of Philip Oettl who struggled in Superpole after a successful opening day.

Scott Redding (ROKiT BMW Motorrad WorldSBK Team) was in 12^th position, with the British rider stating that he hopes to continue with BMW next year.  Fellow Brit, Bradley Ray (Yamaha Motoxracing WorldSBK Team) was in 16^th place as he continues his WorldSBK development.

Image credit: worldsbk.com